The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 403]

GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.

§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.

HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).

¶ And here bygynneth þe Clerk of Oxenford prologe

SIr clerk of Oxenford our hoste sayde Ȝe ryde as stille and coy as doþ a mayde / were newe spoused sittyng at a bord This day ne herd I of ȝour mouth a word Line 4 I trowe ȝe study aboute som sophime But Salomon saith euery þing hath tyme For goddis sake as beth of better cheere It is no tyme for to stody hiere Line 8 Tel vs som mery tale by ȝour fay For what man is entred vnto play he moot nedes vnto þat play assent But prechith not as freres doon in lent Line 12 To make vs for our olde synnes wepe Ne þat þy tale [ [þy scratcht out] ] tale make vs for to slepe Tel vs som mery þing of aduentures Ȝoure termes ȝour colours and ȝour figures Line 16 keep hem in stoor til so be þat ȝe endite high style as whan þat men to kynges write Spekith so playn at þis tyme we ȝow pray That we may vnderstonde þat ȝe say / Line 20 This worþy clerk benignely answerde / Sir host quod he I am vnder ȝour ȝerde Ȝe haue of vs as now þe gouernaunce / And þerfor wol I do ȝow obeissaunce Line 24

[6-text p 404] Line 24 Als fer as resoun askith hardily I wil ȝow telle a tale which þat I lerned at Padowe of a worþy clerk As prouyd by his wordes and his werk Line 28 he is now deed and nayled in his chest Now god ȝiue his soule wel good rest Fraunces petrark þe laureat poete [folio 117a] highte þis clerk/. whos rethorique swete Line 32 Enlumynd al ytail of poetrie As linian did of philosophie Or lawue or other art particulere But deth þat wol not suffre vs duellen heere Line 36 But as it were a twyncling of an ye hem boþe haþ slayn and alle schul dye But forth to telle of this worþy man That taughte me þis tale as I first bigan Line 40 I say þat he first with heigh stile enditith Er he þe body of his tale writith A proheme in the which descriuith he The mounde and of Saluces þe contre Line 44 And spekith of appenyne þe hulles hye That ben þe boundes of al west lombardye And of mount vesulus in special wher as þe poo out of a welle smal Line 48 Takith his firste springyng and his sours That estward ay encresceth in his cours To Emyl-ward · to ferard and to venise The which a long þing were to deuyse Line 52 And trewely as to my Iuggement Me thinkith it a þing Impertinent Saue þat he wold conueyen his matiere But þis is þe tale which þat ȝe schuln heere Line 56

¶ Explicit prohemium [[No break in the MS. here, or between the Stanzas following.]]

[6-text p 405]

¶ Incipit narrare

Ther is at þe west / ende of ytaile Line 57 Doun at þe root of vesulus þe colde A lusty playn abundaunt of vitaile wher many a tour and toun þou maist byholde. That foundid were in tyme of fadres olde. Line 61 And many anothir delitable sight And Saluces þis noble contray hight Line 63

A marquys whilom duellid in þat lond Line 64 As were his worþy eldris him bifore And obeisaunt ay redy to his hond were alle his liegis bothe lesse and more [folio 117b] Thus in delyt he lyueth and hath don ȝore Line 68 Biloued and drad þurgh fauour and fortune Boþe of his lordes and of his comune Line 70

Ther with he was as to speke of lynage Line 71 The gentileste born of lumbardye A fair persone . and strong and ȝong of age And ful of honour and of curtesie Discret ynough his contre for to gye Line 75 Sauynge in som þing he was to blame And wautier was þis ȝonge lordes name Line 77

I blame him thus that he considered nought Line 78 In tyme comyng what mighte bityde But on his lust present was al his þought As for to hauke and hunte on euery syde wel neigh al oþir cures let he slyde Line 82 And eek he nolde þat was [ [þe was erased] ] þe worst of al wedde no wyf for no þing þat might bifal Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

Only þat poynt his poeple bar so sore Line 85 That flokmel on a day to him þay went And oon of hem that wisest was of lore Or elles þat þe lord wolde best assent That he schuld telle him what his poeple ment Line 89 Or ellis couþe he schewe wel such matiere he to þe marquys sayd as ȝe schuln hiere Line 91

O noble marquys . ȝoure humanite Line 92 Assureth vs and ȝiueth vs hardynesse As ofte as tyme is of necessite That we to ȝow may telle oure heuynesse Acceptith lord now . of ȝour necessite Line 96 That we with pitous hert vnto ȝow playne And let ȝoure eeris my vois not disdeyne Line 98

And haue I nought to doon in þis matere Line 99 More þan anoþer man haþ in þis place / Ȝit for as moche as ȝe my lord so deere han alway schewed me fauour and grace I dar þe better ask of ȝow a space / Line 103 And audience to asken oure request/ And ȝe my lord to doon right as ȝow lest [folio 118a] Line 105

For certes lord so wel vs likith ȝow Line 106 And al ȝour werk and euer han doon þat we Ne couþen not deuysen how we mighte lyue more in felicite Saue oon þing lord if þat ȝour wille be Line 110 That for to be a weddid man ȝow list/ Than were ȝour peple in souereign hertes rest / Line 112

Bowith ȝour neck . vndir þat blisful ȝok Line 113 Of souereignete . nought of seruise which þat men clepe spousail or wedlok And thenkith lord among ȝour þoughtes wise /

[6-text p 407] how þat our dayes passe in sondry wyse Line 117 For þough we slepe or wake or rome aboute Ay fleth þe tyme it wil no man abyde. Line 119

And though ȝour grene ȝouþe floure as ȝit Line 120 In crepith age alway as stille as stoon And deth manasith euery age and smyt In ech estat for þer ascapith noon And as certeyn as as we knowe euerychon Line 124 That we schuln deye as vncerteyn we alle Ben of þat day þat deþ schal on vs falle Line 126

Acceptith thanne of vs þe trewe entent Line 127 That neuer ȝit/ refusid ȝoure hest And we wil lord if þat ȝe wil assent Chese ȝow a wyf in schort tyme atte lest Born of þe gentilest and þe heighest Line 131 Of al þis lond so þat it oughte seme honour to god . and ȝow as we can deme Line 133

Deliuer vs out of al þis busy drede Line 134 And tak a wyf fo hihe goddes sake / For if it so bifel as god forbede That þurgh ȝour deþ ȝour lygnage schuld aslake And þat a straunge successour schuld take Line 138 Ȝour heritage . O . wo were vs on lyue wherfor we pray ȝow hastily to wyue Line 140

Her meeke prayer . and her pitous chere Line 141 Made þe marquys for to han pite Ȝe wolde quod he . myn owne poeple deere [folio 118b] To þat I neuer erst þought constreigne me. I me reioysid of my liberte Line 145 That selden tyme is founde in mariage Ther I was fre I mot ben in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

But natheles I se of ȝou þe trewe entent Line 148 And trust vpon ȝour witt and haue doon ay wherfor of my fre wil I wil assent/ To wedde me as soon as euer I may But þer as ȝe haue profred me to day Line 152 To chese me a wyf I wol relese That choys and pray ȝow of þat/ profre cesse / Line 154

For god it woot þat childer ofte been Line 155 vnlik her worthy eldris hem bifore Bounte comeþ al of god nought of þe streen Of which thay ben engendrid and I-bore I trust in goddis bounte and þerfore Line 159 My mariage and myn estat and rest I him bytake . he may doon as him lest Line 161

Let me aloon . in chesyng of my wif Line 162 That charge vpon my bak I wil endure But I ȝow pray and charge vpon ȝour lyf That wyf þat I take ȝe me assure / To worschip / whil . þat hir lif may endure Line 166 In word and werk . boþe heer and euery where / As sche an Emperoures doughter were Line 168

And forthermor þus schul ȝe swer þat ȝe Line 169 Aȝeins my chois schuln neuer grucche ne stryue For sins I schal forgo my liberte At ȝour request as euer mot I þriue Ther as myn hert is set þer wil I wyue Line 173 And but ȝe wil assent in such manere I pray spek no more of þis matiere Line 175

With hertly wil . þay sworen and assentyn Line 176 To al þis þing þer sayde no wight nay Bysechyng him of grace er þat þay wentyn That he wol graunten hem a certeyn day

[6-text p 409] Of his spousail as soone as euer he may Line 180 For ȝit alway þe peple som what dredde [folio 119a] lest that the marquys wolde no wyf wedde Line 182

He graunted hem a day such as him lest Line 183 On which he wolde be weddid sicurly And sayd he dede al þis at her requeste And þay with humble hert ful buxomly knelyng vpon her knees ful reuerently Line 187 him þanken alle and þus þay haue an ende Of her entent . and hom aȝein þay wende Line 189

And her vpon he to his officeris Line 190 Comaundith for the feste to purueye And to his priue knightes and squyeres which charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye And thay to his comaundement obeye / Line 194 And ech of hem doth his diligence To doon vnto þe feste reuerence Line 196

¶ Explicit prima pars. [[No more break in the MS.]]

NOught fer fro þilke place honurable Line 197 wher as this marquys schop his mariage Ther stood a thrope of sighte delitable In which þat pore folk of þat vilage hadden her bestes and her herburgage / Line 201 And after her labour took her sustienaunce After the erthe ȝaf hem abundaunce Line 203

Among this pore folk there duelt a man Line 204 which þat was holden porest of hem alle But heighe god som tyme sende can his grace vnto a litel oxe stalle Ianicula men of þat throop him calle / Line 208 A doughter had he fair y-nough to sight And Crisildes þis ȝonge doughter hight Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

But for to speke of hir vertuous beaute Line 211 Than was sche oon þe fayrest vnder sonne For porely I-fostered vp was sche No licorous lust was in his body ronne wel ofter of þe welle þan of þe tonne Line 215 She dronk and for sche wolde vertu please Sche knew wel labour but noon ydel ease Line 217

But þough þis mayden tender were of age [folio 119b] Line 218 Ȝet in þe brest of her virginite Ther was enclosed rype and sad corrage And in gret reuerence and charite Hir olde pore fader fostred sche / Line 222 A fewe scheep spynnyng on þe feld sche kept Sche nolde not ben ydel til sche slept Line 224

And whan sche com hom sche wolde brynge Line 225 wortis or oþer herbis tymes ofte The which sche schred and seth for hir lyuyng And made hir bed ful hard and no þing softe And ay sche kept hir fadres lif on lofte Line 229 with euery obeissance and diligence That child may do to fadres reuerence Line 231

Vpon Grisildes þe pore creature Line 232 Ful ofte sithes þis marquys set his ye As he on huntyng rood par auenture And whan it fel he mighte hir espye he not with wantoun lokyng of folye Line 236 his eyȝen cast vpon hir but in sad wyse vpon hir cheer he wold him oft avise Line 238

Comendyng in his hert hir wommanhede Line 239 And eek hir vertu passyng any oþer wight Of so ȝong age as wel in cheer as dede For þough þe poeple haue no gret insight

[6-text p 411] In vertu he considereth aright Line 243 Hir bounte and desposed þat he wolde wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde scholde Line 245

The day of weddyng cam but no wight can Line 246 Telle what womman it schulde be / For which meruayle wondrith many a man And sayden whan þay were in priuete wol nought our lord ȝit leue his vanite Line 250 wol he not wedde allas allas þe while why wol he þus himself and vs bigyle Line 252

But natheles þis marquys haþ doon make Line 253 Of gemmes set in gold and in asure Broches and rynges for Grisildes sake / And of hir clothing took he þe mesure [folio 120a] By a mayde y-lik to hir of stature Line 257 And eek of oþer ornamentes alle / That vnto such a weddyng schulde falle / Line 259

The tyme of vndern of þe same day Line 260 Approchith þat þis weddyng schulde be / And al þe palys put was in array Boþe halle an chambur . ylik here degre houses of office stuffid with plente Line 264 Ther maystow se of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde as fer as lastith Itaile / Line 266

This real marquys really arrayd Line 267 lordes and ladyes in his compaignye he which vnto þe feste were prayed And of his retenu þe bachelerie with many a soun of sondry melodye Line 271 vnto þe vilage of which I tolde In þis array þe right way han þay holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

Grysild of þis god wot ful Innocent / Line 274 That for hir schapen was al þis array / To fecche water at a welle is went/ And cometh hom as soone as sche may For wel sche had herd sayd þat ilke day Line 278 The marquys schulde wedde and if sche might Sche wold haue seyen som what of þat sight Line 280

Sche sayd I wol with oþer maydenes stonde / Line 281 That ben my felawes . in oure dore and see / The marquys and þerfore wol I fonde / To don at hom as soone as it may be The labour which þat longeth vnto me Line 285 And þanne may I at leysir hir byholde And sche þe way in to þe castel holde / Line 287

And as sche wold ouer þe þreisshfold goon Line 288 The marquys cam and gan hir for to calle And sche set doun her water-pot anoon Bisides þe þreischfold of þis oxe stalle / And doun vpon hir/ knees . sche gan falle Line 292 And with sad countenaunce knelith stille Til sche had herd what was þe lordes wille [folio 120b] Line 294

This þoughtful marquys spak vnto þis mayde Line 295 Ful soberly and sayd in þis manere wher is ȝour fader Grisildes he sayde And sche with reuerence and humble cheere Sayde lord he is al redy heere / Line 299 And in sche goth wiþouten lenger let And to þe marquys sche hir fader fet Line 301

He by þe hond þan takith þis olde man Line 302 And sayde þus . whan he him had on syde / Ianicula I neither may ne can lenger þe plesauns of myn herte hyde

[6-text p 413] If þat ȝe vouche sauf what so betyde / Line 306 Thy doughter wil I take er þat I wende As for my wyf vnto hir lyues ende / Line 308

Thow louest me I wot it wel certeyn Line 309 And art my faithful liege man I-bore / And al þat likith me I dar wel sayn It likith þe . and specially þerfore Tel me þat poynt . as ȝe haue herd bifore Line 313 If þat þow wolt vnto þat purpos drawe / To take me as for þy · sone in lawe Line 315

The sodeyn caas þe man astoneyd þo Line 316 That reed he wax abaischt and al quakyng he stood vnneþe sayd he wordes mo But oonly þis . lord quod he my willyng Is as ȝe wol aȝenst ȝoure likyng Line 320 I wol no þing ȝe be my lord so deere Right as ȝow list gouernith þis matiere Line 322

Ȝit wol I quod þis markys softely Line 323 That in þy chambre I and þou and sche / haue a collacioun and wostow why For I wol aske if it hir wille be To be my wyf and reule hir after me Line 327 And al þis schal ben doon in þy presence I wol nought speke out of þyn audience Line 329

And in þe chamber whil þay were aboute Line 330 her tretys which as ȝe schul after hiere The poeple cam vnto þe hous wiþoute [folio 121a] And wondrid hem in how honest manere And tendurly sche kept hir fader deere Line 334 But outerly grisildes wonder might For neuer erst ne saugh sche such a sight Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

No wonder is þough þat sche were astoned Line 337 To seen so gret a gest come in to þat place / Sche neuer was to suche gestes woned For which sche loked with ful pale face / But schortly þis matiere forth to chace Line 341 These arn þe wordes þat þe marquys sayde / To this benigne verray faithful mayde Line 343

Grisyld he sayde ȝe schul wel vnderstonde / Line 344 It liketh to ȝour fader and to me That I ȝow wedde and eek it may so stonde As I suppose ȝe wil þat it so be / But þese demaundes aske I first quod he / Line 348 That sith it schal be doon in hasty wyse wol ȝe assent or elles ȝow auyse / Line 350

I say þis be ȝe redy with good hert/ Line 351 To al my lust and þat I frely may As me best liste . do ȝow laughe or smert And neuer ȝe to gruch it night ne day And eek whan I say ȝe ȝe say not nay Line 355 Neyther by word ne frownyng contenaunce Swer þis and here swer I oure alliaunce Line 357

Wondryng vpon þis word quakyng for drede Line 358 Sche sayde lord vndigne and vnworthy I am to thilk honour . þat ȝe me bede But as ȝe wil ȝour self right so wol I And here I swere þat neuer wityngly Line 362 In werk ne thought I nyl ȝow disobeye For to be deed þough me were loth to deye Line 364

This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he / Line 365 And forth goth he wiþ a ful sobre chere Out at þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe pepul he sayd in þis manere ·

[6-text p 415] This is my wyf quod he þat stondith heere Line 369 honoureth hir and loueth hir I ȝow pray [folio 121b] who so me loueth þer is no more to say Line 371

And for þat no þing of hir olde gere Line 372 Sche schulde brynge vnto his hous he bad That wommen schuld despoilen hir right þere Of which þese ladyes were nought ful glad To handle hir cloþes wher-in sche was clad Line 376 But natheles þis mayde bright of hew Fro foot to heed þay schredde han al newe Line 378

Hir heeres han þay kempt þat lay vntressed Line 379 Ful rudely and with hir fyngres smale A coroun on hir heed þay han I-dressed And set hir ful of nowches gret and smale Of hir array what schuld I make a tale / Line 383 Vnnethe þe poeple hir knew for hir fairnesse / whan sche translated was in such richesse / Line 385

This marquis haþ hir spoused with a ryng Line 386 Brought for þe same cause and þan hir sette vpon an hors snow-whyt and wel amblyng And to his palys er he lenger lette with ioyful poeple þat hir ladde and mette Line 390 Conueyed hire and þus þe day þay spende In reuel til þe sonne gan descende Line 392

And schortly þis tale for to chace Line 393 I say þat to þis newe marquisesse God hath schewed fauour and sent hir of his grace That it semyd not by liklynesse That sche was born and fed in rudenesse Line 397 As in a cote or in an Oxe stalle But norischt in an emperoures halle Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

To euery wight sche waxen is so deere Line 400 And worschipful þat folk þer sche was born And from hir burthe knew hir ȝer by ȝere Vnneth trowed þay but dorst han sworn That to Ianicle of which I spak biforn Line 404 Sche doughter were . for as by coniecture Hem þought sche was anoþer creature Line 406

For þough þat euer vertuous was sche Line 407 Sche was encresed in such excellence [folio 122a] Of thewes goode i-set in high bounte And so discret and fair of eloquence So benigne and so digne of reuerence Line 411 And couþe so þe poeples hert embrace That ech hir loueþ þat lokith in hir face Line 413

Nought oonly of Saluce in þe toun Line 414 Puplissched was þe bounte of hir name But eek byside in many a regioun If oon sayd wel anoþer sayd þe same So sprad of hire heigh bounte þe fame / Line 418 That men and wommen as wel ȝong as olde Gon to Saluce vpon hir to byholde Line 420

This walter louly . nay but really Line 421 weddid with fortunat honestete In goddes pees lyueth ful esily At home and outward grace ynough haþ he And for he saugh þat vnder low degre Line 425 was ofte vertu y-hid þe poeple him helde A prudent man and þat is seint ful selde Line 427

Nought oonly þis Grisildes þurgh hit witte Line 428 Couthe al þe feet of wifly humblesse / But eek whan þat þe tyme required it The comun profyt couthe sche redresse

[6-text p 417] Ther nas discord rancour ne heuynesse / Line 432 In al þat lond þat sche ne couþe appese / And wisly bryng hem alle in rest and ese Line 434

Though þat hir housbond absent were anoon Line 435 If gentil men or oþer of hir contre were wroth sche wolde brynge hem at oon So wyse and rype wordes hadde sche And Iuggement of so gret equite Line 439 That sche from heuen sent was as men wende / Poeple to saue and euery wrong to amende Line 441

Nought longe tyme after þat þis Grisilde Line 442 was wedded sche a douȝter haþ I-bore Al had hir leuer han had a knaue childe Glad was þis marquis and þe folk þerfore For though a mayden child come al byfore / [folio 122b] Line 446 Sche may vnto a knaue child atteigne By liklihed and sche nys not bareigne [[No break in the MS.]] Line 448

¶ Incipit Tercia pars.

Ther fel as fallith many tymes mo Line 449 whan þat þis child haþ souked but a þrowe This marquys in his herte longith so Tempte his wyf . hir sadnesse for to knowe That he ne might out of his herte þrowe Line 453 This meruaylous desir his wyf tassaye Now god wot he þought hir to affraye Line 455

He had assayed hir ynough bifore Line 456 And fond hir euer good what needith it/ hire to tempte . and alway more and more Though som men prayse it for a subtil wit But as for me I say that euel it sit Line 460 Tassay a wyf whan þat it is no neede And putte hir in anguysch and in dreede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

For which þis marquis wrouȝt in þis manere Line 463 he com aloone a night þer as sche lay / wiþ sterne face and with ful trouble cheere And sayde þus Grisild quod he þat day / Þat I ȝow took out of ȝour pore array / Line 467 And putte ȝow in estat of heigh noblesse Ȝe haue not þat . forgeten as I gesse / Line 469

I say Grisild þis present dignite Line 470 In which þat I haue put ȝow as I trowe Makith ȝow not . forȝetful for to be Þat I ȝow took in pore estat ful lowe For eny wele ȝe moot ȝour selue knowe / Line 474 Tak heed of euery word þat/ I ȝow say / Ther is no wight þat herith it but we tway / Line 476

Ȝe wot ȝour self . how ȝe comen heere Line 477 In to þis hous it is nought long ago And þough to me þat ȝe be leef and deere vnto my gentils ȝe be no þing so Thay seyn to hem it is gret schame and wo Line 481 For to ben subiect/ . and ben in seruage / To the þat born art of a smal village [folio 123a] Line 483

And namely syn þy doughter was I-bore Line 484 These wordes han þay spoken douteles But I desire as I haue doon byfore To lyue my lif with hem in rest and pees I may not in þis caas be reccheles Line 488 I moot do with þy doughter for þe best/ Not as I wolde but as my pepul lest Line 490

And ȝit god wot þis is ful loth to me Line 491 But naþeles wiþoute ȝoure witynge wol I not doon . but þis wold I quod he / That ȝe to me assent as in þis þing /

[6-text p 419] Schew now ȝour paciens in ȝour wirching Line 495 Þat þou me hightest and swor in ȝon village That day þat maked was oure mariage Line 497

Whan sche had herd al þis sche nouȝt ameeuyd Line 498 Neyþer in word in cheer or countenaunce For as it semed sche was nought agreeued She sayde lord al lith in ȝour plesaunce My child and I with hertly obeisaunce Line 502 Ben ȝoures al . and ȝe may saue or spille Ȝour oughne þing . werkiþ after ȝour wille / Line 504

Ther may no þing so god my soule saue Line 505 liken to ȝow þat may displesen me Ne I desire no þing for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue oonly ȝe This wil is in myn hert and ay schal be Line 509 No length of tyme or deþ may þis deface / Ne chaunge my corrage to oþer place / Line 511

Glad was this marquis of hir answeryng Line 512 But ȝit he feyned as he were not so Al dreery was his cheer and his lokyng whan þat he schold out of þe Chambre go Soon after þis a forlong way or tuo Line 516 he priuely haþ told al his entent vnto aman . and vnto his wyf him sent Line 518

A maner Sergeant was þis priue man Line 519 The which þat faithful oft he founden hadde In þinges grete . and eek such folk wel can [folio 123b] Don execucioun in þinges badde The lord knew wel þat he him loued and dradde Line 523 And whan þis sergeant wist his lordes wille In to þe chamber he stalked him ful stille. Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

Ma dame he sayd ȝe most forȝiue it me Line 526 Though I do þing . to which I am constreynit. Ȝe ben so wys þat ful wel knowe ȝe Þat lordes hestes mow not ben I-feynit Thay mowe wel biwayl it or compleyn it/ Line 530 But men moot neede vnto her lust obeye And so wol I þer is no more to seye Line 532

This child I am comaundid for to take / Line 533 And spak no more. but out þe child he hent Dispitously and gan a chiere make As þough he wold han slayn it er he went Grisild moot al suffer and al consent Line 537 And as a lamb sche sitteth meeke and stille / And let þis cruel sergeant doon his wille Line 539

Suspecious was þe defame of þis man Line 540 Suspect his face. suspect his word also / Suspect þe tyme. in which he þis bigan Allas hir doughter þat she loued so Sche wend he wold han slayen it right þo Line 544 But naþeles sche neyþer weep ne siked Conformyng hir to þat þe marquis liked Line 546

But atte last speke sche bigan Line 547 And mekely sche to þe sergeant preyde So as he was a worþy gentil man That she most kisse hir child er þat it deyde And on hir arm þis litel child sche leyde Line 551 wiþ ful sad face. and gan þe child to blesse And lullyd it and after gan it kesse / Line 553

And þus sche sayd in hir benigne vois Line 554 Far wel my child I schal þe neuer see / But sith I þe haue marked wiþ þe croys / Of þilke fader blessed mot þou be

[6-text p 421] That for vs deyde vpon a cros of tre Line 558 Thy soule litel child. I him bytake [folio 124a] For þis night schaltow deyen for my sake / Line 560

I trowe þat to a norice in þis caas Line 561 It had ben hard þis rewthe for to see wel might a moder þan haue cryed allas But naþeles so sad stedefast was sche Þat she endured al aduersite Line 565 And to þe sergeant mekely sche sayde / Haue her agayn ȝour litel ȝonge mayde Line 567

Goth now quod sche and doþ my lordes heste Line 568 But o þing wil I pray ȝow of ȝour grace Þat but my lord forbede ȝow atte leste Burieth þis litel body in som place That bestes ne no briddes it to-race / Line 572 But he no word wil to þe purpos say / But took þe child and went vpon his way Line 574

This sergeant com vnto þis lord agayn Line 575 And of Grisildes wordes and hir cheere He tolde poynt for poynt in schort and playn And him presentith with his douȝter deere Som what þis lord hath rewthe in his manere Line 579 But naþeles his purpos huld he stille / As lordes doon whan þay woln haue her wille Line 581

And bad þe sergeaunt þat he priuely Line 582 Scholde þis childe softe wynde and wrappe / with alle circumstaunces tendurly And cary it in a cofre or in his lappe Vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe Line 586 That no man schulde knowe of þis entent Ne whens he com. ne whider þat he went Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

But at Boloyne to his suster deere Line 589 That þilke tyme of panik was Countesse He schuld it take and schewe hir þis matiere Byseching her to doon hir busynesse This child to fostre in alle gentilesse Line 593 And whos child þat it was he bad hir hyde From euery wight for ought þat mighte bytyde Line 595

The sergeant goþ and haþ fulfild þis þing Line 596 But to þis marquys now retourne we [folio 124b] For now goþ he ful fast ymaginyng If by his wyues cher he mighte se Or by hir word apparceyue þat sche Line 600 were chaunged. but he hir neuer couþe fynde But euer in oon y-like sad and kynde / Line 602

As glad as humble as busy in seruise / Line 603 And eek in loue as sche was wont to be was sche to him in euery maner wyse / Ne of hir doughter nouȝt o word spak sche Non accident/ for noon aduersite Line 607 was seyn in hir ne neuer hir doughter name Ne nempnyd sche. in ernest ne in game [[No break in the MS.]] Line 609

¶ Incipit. Quarta pars.

IN þis estaat þer passed ben foure ȝer Line 610 Er sche wiþ childe was. but as god wolde A knaue child sche bar by þis waltier Ful gracious and fair for to biholde And whan þat folk it/ to his fader tolde Line 614 Nouȝt oonly he. but al his contre merye was for þis child and god þay þank and herie Line 616

When it was tuo ȝer old and fro þe brest Line 617 Departed fro his noris vpon a day This markys caughte ȝit another lest

[6-text p 423] To tempt his wif ȝit after if he may O needles was sche tempted in assay Line 621 But weddid men ne knowen no mesure whan þat þay fynde. a pacient creature Line 623

Wyf quod þis marquys ȝe han herd er þis Line 624 My peple sekly berith oure mariage And namly syn. my sone y-boren is Now is it wors þan euer in al our age The murmur sleþ myn hert and my corrage Line 628 For to myn eeris comeþ þe vois so smerte Þat it wel neigh destroyed haþ myn herte. Line 630

Now say þay þus whan wauter is a goon Line 631 Than schal þe blood of Ianicula succede And ben our lord for oþer haue we noon· Suche wordes saith my poeple out/ of drede / [folio 125a] wel ought I of such murmur taken heede Line 635 For certeynly I drede such sentence Þough þay not pleynly speke in myn audience / Line 637

I wolde lyue in pees if þat I might Line 638 wher for I am disposid outrely As I his suster seruede by night Right so þynk I to serue him priuely This warn I ȝou þat ȝe not sodeinly Line 642 Out of ȝour self for no þing schuld outraye Beþ pacient and þer of I ȝow pray Line 644

I haue quod sche sayd þus and euer schal Line 645 I wol no þing ne nil no þing certayn But as ȝow list. nought greueth me at al Though þat my doughter and my sone be slayn. At ȝour comaundement þis is to sayne Line 649 I haue no had no part of children twayne But first syknes and after wo and payne / Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

Ȝe ben oure lord doth with ȝour owne þing Line 652 Right as ȝow list axith no red of me For as I left at hom al my cloþing whan I first com to ȝow right so quod sche Left I my wille and my liberte / Line 656 And took ȝour cloþing. wher for I ȝow preye Doþ ȝoure plesaunce. I wil ȝoure lust obeye Line 658

And certes if I hadde prescience Line 659 Ȝour wil to knowe. er ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde I wold it doon wiþoute negligence But now I wot ȝour lust and what ȝe wolde Al ȝour plesaunce ferm and stable I holde Line 663 For wist I þat my deth wold don ȝow ease Right gladly wold I deye ȝow to please Line 665

Deth may make no comparisoun Line 666 vnto ȝour loue and whan þis marquys say The constance of his wyf he cast a doun His eyȝen tuo and wondrith þat sche may In pacience suffre al þis array Line 670 And forth he goþ with drery countenaunce But to his hert it was ful gret plesaunce [folio 125b] Line 672

This Igly sergeaunt in þe same wise Line 673 That he hir doughter fette. right so he Or worse if men worse can deuyse hath hent hir sone þat ful was of beaute And euer in oon so pacient was sche Line 677 That sche no cheere made of heuynesse But kist hir sone. and after gan him blesse Line 679

Saue þis sche prayed him if þat he mighte Line 680 her litel sone he wold in eorþe graue His tendre lymes delicate to sight From foules and from bestes him to saue

[6-text p 425] But sche noon answer of him mighte haue Line 684 he went his way as him no þing ne rought But to Boloyne he tenderly it brought Line 686

This marquis wondreth euer þe lenger þe more Line 687 vpon hir pacience. and if þat he Ne hadde soþly knowen þer bifore Þat parfytly hir children loued sche he wold haue wend þat of som subtilte Line 691 And malice or of cruel corrage That sche had suffred þis wiþ sad visage Line 693

But wel he knew þat next himself certayn Line 694 Sche loued hir children best in euery wise But now of wommen wold I aske fayn If þese assayes mighten not suffice what couþe a stourdy housebonde more deuyse Line 698 To prove hir wyfhode and her stedefastnesse / And he contynuyng euer in stourdynesse Line 700

But þer ben folk of such condicioun Line 701 That whan þay haue a certeyn purpos take Thay can nought stynt of her entencioun But right as þay were bounden to a stake / Þay wil not of her firste purpos slake Line 705 Right so þis marquys fullich haþ purposed To tempt his wyf as he was first disposed Line 707

He wayteth if by word or countenaunce Line 708 That sche to him was chaunged of corage But neuer couþe he fynde variaunce [folio 126a] Sche was ay oon in hert and in visage And ay þe ferþer þat sche was in age / Line 712 The more trewe if þat it were possible / Sche was to him and more penyble. Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

For which it semyd þis þat of hem tuo Line 715 Þer nas but oo wil for as walter lest/ The same plesaunce was hir lust also And god by thanked al fel for þe best/ Sche schewed wel. for no worldly vnrest Line 719 A wyf as of hir self no þing ne scholde wylne in effect. but as hir housbond wolde Line 721

The sclaunder of walter ofte and wyde spradde Line 722 That of a cruel hert he wikkedly For he a pore womman weddid hadde hath morthrid boþe his children priuely Such murmur was among hem comunly Line 726 No wonder is for to þe peples eere Ther com no word. but þat þay mortherid were / Line 728

For which wher as his peple þer byfore Line 729 had loued him wel þe sclaunder of his diffame Made hem þat þay him hatede þerfore To ben a mordrer. is an hateful name But naþeles for ernest or for game Line 733 he of his cruel purpos nolde stente To tempt his wyf was set al his entente Line 735

Whan þat his doughter twelf ȝer was of age Line 736 he to þe court of Rome in suche wise Enformed of his wille sent his message Comaundyng hem. such bulles to deuyse As to his cruel purpos may suffise Line 740 how þat þe pope as for his peples reste Bad him to wedde anoþer if him leste Line 742

I say he bad þay schulde countrefete Line 743 The popes bulles makyng mencioun That he haþ leue his firste wyf to lete As by þe popes dispensacioun

[6-text p 427] To stynte rancour and discencioun Line 747 Bitwix his peple and him þus sayd þe bulle [folio 126b] The which þay han publisshid atte fulle / Line 749

The rude poepel as it no wonder is Line 750 wende ful wel þat it had be right so But whan þese tydynges come to Grisildis I deeme þat hir herte was ful wo But sche y-like sad for euermo Line 754 Disposid was þis humble creature Thaduersite of fortun al tendure Line 756

Abydyng euer his lust and his plesaunce Line 757 To whom þat sche was ȝiue hert and al As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce But schortly if I þis story telle schal This marquys writen haþ in special Line 761 A letter in which he schewith his entent And secrely he to Boloyne it sent / Line 763

To therl of panyk/ which þat hadde þo Line 764 weddid his suster prayd he specially To brynge hom aȝein his children tuo In honurable estaat al openly But oon þing he him prayde outerly Line 768 That he to no wight þough men wold enquere Schuld not tellen. whos children þay were Line 770

But say þe mayde. schuld I-weddid be Line 771 vnto þe markys of Saluce anoon And as þis eorl was prayd so dede he For at day set. he on his way is goon Toward Saluce and lordes many oon Line 775 In riche array þis mayden for to guyde hir ȝonge broþer rydyng by hir syde Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

Arrayed was toward hir mariage Line 778 This freisshe may al ful of gemmes clere hir broþer which þat. seuen ȝer was of age Arrayed eek. ful freissh in his manere / And thus in gret noblesse and with glad chere Line 782 Toward Saluces schapyng her iournay Fro day to day þay ryden in her way [[No break in the MS.]] Line 784

¶ Incipit pars Quinta.

AMong al þis after his wikked vsage [folio 127a] Line 785 This marquis ȝit his wif to tempte more To þe vttrest proef of hir corrage Fully to han experiens and lore If þat sche were as stedefast as byfore Line 789 He on a day in open audience Ful boystously haþ sayd hir þis sentence Line 791

Certes Grisildes I had ynough plesaunce Line 792 To haue ȝow to my wif for ȝour goodnesse And for ȝoure trouþe and for ȝour obeissaunce Nought for ȝour lignage ne for ȝour richesse But now know I in verray sothfastnesse / Line 796 That in gret lordschip if I wel auyse / Ther is gret seruise in sondry wyse / Line 798

I may not do as euery plough man may Line 799 My poeple me constreignith for to take Anoþer wyf and certeyn day by day And eek þe popes rancour for to slake Consentith it þat dar I vndertake Line 803 And trewely þus moche I wol ȝow say My newe wif is comyng by þe way Line 805

Be strong of hert and voyde anoon hir place Line 806 And þilke dower þat ȝe broughten me Tak it agayn I graunt it of my grace

[6-text p 429] Retourneth to ȝour fadres hous quod he No man may alway haue prosperite Line 810 with euen hert I rede ȝow endure The strok of fortune or of aduenture Line 812

And sche agayn answerd in pacience Line 813 My lord quod sche I wot and wist/ alway how þat bitwixe ȝour magnificence And my pouerte no wight can ne may Make comparisoun it is no nay Line 817 ¶ I. ne held me neuer digne in no manere To ben ȝour wyf ne ȝit ȝour Chamberere Line 819

And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made / Line 820 The highe god take I for my witnesse And al so wisly he my soule glade I neuer huld me lady ne maistresse / [folio 127b] But humble seruaunt to ȝour worthinesse Line 824 And euer schal whil þat/ my lyf may dure Abouen euery worldly creature Line 826

That ȝe so longe of ȝour benignite Line 827 han holden me in honour and nobleye wher as I was not worthy for to be That þonk I god and ȝow to whom I preye Forȝeld it ȝow þer is more to seye Line 831 vnto my fader gladly wil I wende And with him duelle vnto my lyues ende / Line 833

Ther I was fostred as a child ful smal Line 834 Til I be deed my lyf ther wil I lede A widow clene in body hert and al For sith I ȝaf to ȝow my maydenhede And am ȝour trewe wyf it is no drede Line 838 God schilde such a lordes wyf to take Anoþer man to housbond or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

And of ȝour newe wif. god of his grace Line 841 So graunte ȝow. wele and prosperite For I wol gladly ȝelden hir my place I which þat I was blisful wont to be For sith it liketh ȝow my lord quod sche Line 845 That whilom were al myn hertes reste That I schal gon. I wil go whan ȝow leste Line 847

But þer as ȝe profre me such dowayre / Line 848 As I ferst brought. it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecchid cloþes no þing faire Þe whiche to me were hard now for to fynde O goode god. how gentil and how kynde Line 852 Ȝe semed by ȝour speche and ȝour visage That day þat maked was our mariage Line 854

But soþ is sayd algate I fynd it trewe / Line 855 For in effect. it/ proued is on me loue is nought old. as whan þat it is newe/ But certes lord for noon aduersite / To deyen in þe caas it schal not be / Line 859 Þat euer in word or werk I schal repente That I ȝow ȝaf myn hert in hol entente [folio 128a] Line 861

My lord ȝe wot þat in my fadres place Line 862 Ȝe dede me strippe out of my pore wede And richely me cladden of ȝour grace To ȝow brought I nought elles out of drede But faith and mekenes and maydenhede / Line 866 And her agayn my cloþyng I restore And eek my weddyng ryng for euermore Line 868

The remenant of ȝour jewels redy be / Line 869 wiþin ȝour chambur dore dar I saufly sayn Naked out of my fadres hous quod sche / I com and naked moot I torne agayn

[6-text p 431] Al ȝour pleisauns. wold I fulfille fayn Line 873 But ȝit I hope it be not ȝoure entent That I smocles out of ȝour chambre went Line 875

Ȝe couþe not doon so dishonest a þing Line 876 Þat þilke wombe in which ȝour children leye Schulde byforn þe poeple in my walkyng Be seye al bare wher-fore I ȝow pray let me not lik a worm go by þe way / Line 880 Remembre ȝow myn oughne lord so deere / I was ȝour wyf. þough I vnworþy were Line 882

Wherfor in guerdoun of my maydenhede Line 883 which þat I brought and nought agayn I bere As voucheth sauf. as ȝeue me to my meede Such a smok as I was wont to were That I þer with may wrye þe wombe of here / Line 887 Þat was ȝour wif and here take I my leue Of ȝow myn oughne lord. lest I ȝow greue Line 889

The smok quod he þat þou hast on þy bak Line 890 let it be stille and ber it forþ wiþ þe But wel vnnethes þilke word he spak But went his way for routhe and for pite Byforn þe folk hir seluen strippith sche / Line 894 And in hir smok. wiþ heed and foot al bare Toward hir fader house forth is sche fare Line 896

The folk hir folwen wepyng in hir weye Line 897 And fortune ay þay cursen as þay goon But/ sche fro wepyng kept hir eyen dreye [folio 128b] Ne in þis tyme word ne spak sche noon hir fader þat þis tyding herd anoon Line 901 Cursed þe day and tyme þat nature Schoop him to ben a lyues creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

For out of doute þis olde þore man Line 904 was euer in suspect of hir mariage For euer he deemed sith þat it bigan That whan þe lord fulfilled had his corrage him wolde þinke þat it were disparage Line 908 To his estate . so lowe for to light And voyden hire as sone as euer he might Line 910

Agayns his doughter hastily quod he Line 911 For he by noyse of folk knew hir comyng And wiþ hir olde cote as it might be / he couered hir ful sorwfully wepynge But on hir body might he it nouȝt bringe Line 915 For rude was þe cloth . and sche mor of age By deyes fele . þan hir mariage Line 917

Thus with hir fader for a certeyn space Line 918 Dwellith þis flour of wifly pacience That neyther by her wordes ne by hir face Byforn þe folk nor eek in her absence Ne schewed sche that hir was doon offence Line 922 Ne of hir highe astaat no remembraunce Ne hadde sche . as by hir countenaunce Line 924

No wonder is for in hir gret estate Line 925 hir gost was euer in playn humilite Ne tender mouth noon herte delicate Ne pompe . ne semblant of realte But ful of pacient benignite Line 929 Discrete and prideles ay honurable / And to hir housbond euer meke · and stable Line 931

Men speke of Iob . and most for his humblesse /· Line 932 As clerkes whan hem lust can wel endite Namely of men . but as in sothfastnesse Þough clerkes prayse wommen but a lite

[6-text p 433] Þer can no man in humblesse him acquyte Line 936 As wommen can . ne can be half so trewe [folio 129a] As wommen ben . but it be falle of newe [[No break in the MS.]] Line 938

Fro boloyne is þis erl of panik y-come Line 939 Of which þe fame vp sprong to more and lasse And to þe poeples eeres alle and some was couth eek þat a newe marquisesse he wiþ him brought in such pomp and richesse Line 943 That neuer was þer seyn with mannes ye So noble array in al west lombardye Line 945

The marquys which þat schoop and knew al þis Line 946 Er þat þis erl was come sent his message / After þilk cely pore Grisildis And sche wiþ humble hert and good visage Not with so swollen hert in hir corrage Line 950 Cam at his hest . and on hir knees hir sette And reuerently and wyfly sche him grette Line 952

Grisild quod he . my wil is outrely Line 953 This mayden þat schal weddid be to me Receyued be to morwe as really As it possible is in myn hous to be And eek þat euery wight in his degre Line 957 haue his estaat in sittyng and seruyse In high plesaunce as I can deuyse Line 959

I haue no womman suffisant certeyne Line 960 The chambres for tarray in ordinance After my lust and þerfor wold I feyne / That þin were al such maner gouernaunce Thow knowest/ eek of al my plesaunce Line 964 Though þyn array be badde and ille byseye Do þou þy deuer atte leste weye Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

Nought oonly lord þat I am glad quod sche / Line 967 To don ȝour lust . but I desire also / Ȝow for to serue and plese in my degre wiþoute feynyng and schal euer mo Ne neuer for no wele ne for no wo Line 971 Ne schal þe gost wiþinne myn herte stente / To loue ȝow best wiþ al my trewe entent Line 973

And wiþ þat word sche gan þe hous to dight Line 974 And tables for to sette and beddes make [folio 129b] And peyned hir to doon al þat sche might Preying þe chamberers for goddes sake To hasten hem and faste swepe and schake Line 978 And sche þe moste seruisable of alle / haþ euery chamber arrayed and his halle / Line 980

Abouten vndern gan þis lord alight Line 981 Þat with him brought þese noble children tweye For which þe peple ran to se þat sight Of her array so richely biseye And þan at erst amonges hem þay seye Line 985 That walter was no forþ þough that him lest To chaunge his wyf . for it was for þe best / Line 987

For sche is fairer . as þay demen alle / Line 988 Than is Grisild and more tender of age And fairer fruyt bitwen hem schulde falle And more plesaunt for hir high lynage hir broþer eek . so fair was of visage Line 992 That hem to seen þe peple haþ caught plesaunce Comending now þe marquys gouernaunce Line 994

O stormy poeple . vnsad and euer vntrewe Line 995 And vndiscret and chaungyng as a fane Desyryng euer in rombel þat is newe For lik þe moone ay wax ȝe and wane

[6-text p 435] Ay ful of clappyng dere ynough a Iane Line 999 ȝoure doom is fals ȝour constaunce yuel preuith A ful gret fool is he that on ȝow leeuith Line 1001

Thus sayde saad folk in þat Citee Line 1002 whan þat þe poeple gased vp and doun For þay were glad right of þe nouelte To han a newe lady of her toun No more of þis now make I mencioun Line 1006 But to Grisildes agayn wol I me dresse And telle hir constance and hir busynesse / Line 1008

Ful busy was grisild in euery þing Line 1009 That to þe feste was appertinent Right nought was sche abaissht of hir cloþing Though it were ruyde . and som del eek torent But wiþ glad cheer to þe ȝate is sche went [folio 130a] Line 1013 with oþer folk to griete þe marquisesse And after þat doth forth hir busynesse / Line 1015

With so glad chier his gestes sche receyueth Line 1016 And so connyngly euerich in his degre / That no defaute no man aparceyueth But ay þay wondren what sche mighte be That in so pouer array was for to se Line 1020 And couþe such honour and reuerence And worthily þay prayse hir prudence Line 1022

In al þis mene while sche ne stent Line 1023 This mayde and eek hir brother to comende with al hir hert . in ful buxom entent So wel þat no man couþe hir pris amende But atte last whan þat þese lordes wende Line 1027 To sitte doun to mete he gan to calle / Grisild as sche was busy in his halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

Grisyld quod he as it were in his play Line 1030 how likith þe my wif and hir beaute Right wel my lord quod sche for in good fay A fairer saugh I neuer noon þan sche I pray to god ȝiue hir prosperite Line 1034 And so hope I . þat he wol to ȝow sende Plesaunce ynough vnto ȝour lyues ende / Line 1036

On þing warn I ȝow and biseke also / Line 1037 That ȝe ne prike wiþ no tormentynge Þis tendre mayden as ȝe haue do mo For sche is fostrid in hir norischinge More tendrely and to my supposynge / Line 1041 Sche couþe not aduersite endure As couþe a pore fostrid creature Line 1043

And whan þis walter saugh hir pacience Line 1044 hir glade cheer and no malice at al And he so oft had doon to hir offence And sche ay sad . and constant as a wal Continuyng euer hir Innocence oueral Line 1048 This sturdy marquys gan his herte dresse To Rewen vpon hir wyfly stedefastnesse / Line 1050

This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he [folio 130b] Line 1051 Be now no more agast ne yuel apayed I haue thy faith and þy benignite As wel as euer womman was assayed In gret estate and propreliche arrayed Line 1055 Now knowe I dere wyf þy stedefastnesse And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse Line 1057

And sche for wonder took of it no keepe Line 1058 Sche herde not what þing he to hir sayde Sche ferd as sche had stert out of a sleepe Til sche out of hir masidnesse abrayde

[6-text p 437] Grisild quod he by god þat for vs deyde Line 1062 Thou art my wyf ne noon oþer I haue Ne neuer had as god my soule saue Line 1064

This is my doughter which þou hast supposed Line 1065 To be my wif þat oþer faithfully Schal be myn heir as I haue ay purposed Thow bar hem in þy body trewely At Boloyne haue I kept hem priuely Line 1069 Tak hem agayn for now maistow not seye That þou hast lorn noon of þy children tweye Line 1071

And folk þat oþer weyes han seyd of me Line 1072 I warn hem wel þat I haue doon þis deede For no malice ne for no cruelte But for tassaye in þe þy wommanhede And not to slen my children god forbede Line 1076 But for to kepe hem priuely and stille Til I þy purpos knowe and al þy wille Line 1078

Whan sche þis herd a swoned doun sche fallith Line 1079 For pitous ioy . and after her swownyng Sche bothe hir ȝonge children to hir callith And in hir armes pitously wepyng Embraseth hem and tenderly kissyng Line 1083 Ful lik a moder with hir salte teris Sche bathis boþe hir visage and hir eeris Line 1085

O such a pitous þing it was to see [[This line is repeated in the MS., but has been scratcht out.]] hir swownyng and hir humble vois to heere Graunt mercy lord . god thank it ȝow quod sche [folio 131a] That ȝe han kept my children so deere Now rek I neuer to be deed right heere Line 1090 Sith I stond in ȝour loue and in ȝour grace No fors of deth ne whan my spirit pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

O tender deere . ȝonge children myne Line 1093 Ȝoure woful moder wende stedefastly That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne had eten ȝow but god of his mercy And ȝour benigne fader tenderly Line 1097 hath doon ȝow kept and in þat same stounde Al sodeinly sche swapped doun to grounde / Line 1099

And in hir swough so sadly holdith sche Line 1100 hir children tuo . whan sche gan hem tembrace That with gret sleight and gret difficulte The children from her am þay gonne arace O many a teer . o many a pitous face. Line 1104 Doun ran of hem þat stooden hir bisyde Vnnethe aboute hir mighte þay abyde Line 1106

Waltier hir gladith and hir sorwe slakith Line 1107 Sche rysith vp abaisshed from hir traunce And euery wight hir ioy and feste makith Til sche hath caught agayn hir continaunce wauter hir doth so faithfully plesaunce Line 1111 That it was daynte for to see þe cheere Bitwix hem tuo . now þay be met in feere Line 1113

These ladys whan þat þay her tyme say Line 1114 han taken hir and in to chambre goon And strippen hir . out of hir rude array And in a cloth of gold þat brighte schon with a coroun of many a riche stoon Line 1118 vpon hir heed þay in to halle hir brought And þer sche was honoured as hir ought Line 1120

Thus hath þis pitous day a blisful ende Line 1121 For euery man and womman doth his might This day in mirth and revel to despende Til on þe welken schon þe sterres bright

[6-text p 439] For more solempne in euery mannes sight Line 1125 This feste was and gretter of costage [folio 131b] Than was þe reuel of hir mariage / Line 1127

Ful many a ȝer in heigh prosperite Line 1128 lyuen þese tuo in concord and in rest And richeliche his doughter maried he vnto a lord on of þe worthiest Of al ytaile and þanne in pees and rest Line 1132 His wyues fader in his court he kepith Til þat þe soule out of his body crepith Line 1134

His sone succedith in his heritage Line 1135 In rest and pees . after his fader day And fortunat . was eek in mariage Al put he not his wyf in gret assay This world is not so strong it is no nay Line 1139 As it haþ ben in olde tymes ȝore And herknith what þis auctor saith þerfore Line 1141

This story is sayd nat for þat wyues scholde Line 1142 Folwe Grisild . as in humilite For it were importable þough þay wolde But for þat euery wight in his degre Schulde be constant . in aduersite Line 1146 As was Grisild . therfore Petrark writeth This story which wiþ high stile he enditeth Line 1148

For swich a womman was so pacient Line 1149 vnto a mortal man wel more vs oughte Receyuen al in gre þat god vs sent For gret skil is he proue þat he wroughte But he ne temptith no man þat he boughte Line 1153 As saith seint Iame if he his pistil rede he prouith folk al day it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And suffrith vs as for our exercise Line 1156 wiþ scharpe scourges of aduersite Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise Nought for to knowe oure wille for certes he Er we were born . knew al our frelte Line 1160 And for oure best is al his gouernaunce Leet vs þanne lyue in vertuous suffraunce Line 1162

But oo word lordes herkneth er I go Line 1163 It were ful hard to fynde now a dayes [folio 132a] As Grisildes in al a toun þre or tuo For if þat þay were put to such assayes The gold of hem haþ now so badde alayes Line 1167 with bras þat þough þe coyn be fair at ye hit wolde raþer brest in tuo þan plye Line 1169

For which heer for þe wyues loue of bathe Line 1170 whos lyf and alle of hir secte god meyntene In high maistry and elles were it scathe I wil with lusty herte freisch and grene Say ȝow a song to glade . ȝow I wene Line 1174 And lat vs stynt of ernestful matiere herknith my song . þat saith in þis manere / [[No break in the MS.]] Line 1176

¶ Lenvoye . de Chaucer.

GRisild is deed and eek hir pacience Line 1177 And bothe at oones buried in Itayle For whiche I crye in open audience / Line 1179 No weddid man so hardy be to assayle his wyues pacience in hope to fynde Grisildes for in certeyn he schal fayl Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues ful of heigh prudence / Line 1183 let noon humilite ȝour tonges nayle Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence Line 1185 To write of ȝow a story of such meruayle / As of Grisildes pacience and kynde Lest Chichiuache ȝow swolwe in hir entraile Line 1188

Folwith Ecco þat holdith no silence Line 1189 But euer answereth at þe countretayle Beþ nouȝt bydaffed for ȝour Innocence Line 1191 But scharply tak on ȝow þe gouernayle Empryntith wel þis lessoun in ȝour mynde For comun profyt sith it may auayle Line 1194

Ȝe archewyues stondith at defens Line 1195 Syn ȝe ben strong as is a greet/ Chamayle Ne suffre not þat men ȝow don offens Line 1197 And sclendre wydewes felle as in batayle Beth egre as is a Tyger ȝond in Inde Ay clappith as a mylle I ȝow counsaile Line 1200

Ne drede hem not . do hem no reuerence [folio 132b] Line 1201 For þough þin housbond armed be in mayle The arwes of þy crabbid eloquence Line 1203 Schal perse his brest and eek his aduentayle / In gelousy I rede eek þou him bynde And þou schalt make him couche as doth a quayle Line 1206

If þou be fair þer folk ben in presence Line 1207 Schew þou þy visage and þin apparaile If þou be foul be fre of þy despense Line 1209 To gete þe frendes do ay þy trauayle / Be ay of chier as light as lef on lynde / And let hem care and wepe and wryng and wayle Line 1212

Explicit.

[6-text p 442]

¶ here bygynneth þe prologe of þe marchaundis tale.

WEpyng and wailyng care and oþer sorwe I knowe ynough boþe on euen & on morwe Quod þe marchaund . and so doon oþer mo That weddid ben I trowe þat it be so Line 1216 For wel I woot it fareth so with me I haue a wyf . þe worste þat may be For þough þe feend to hir y-coupled were Sche wold him ouer macche I dar wel swere Line 1220 what schuld I ȝow reherse in special hir high malice . sche is a schrewe at al Ther is a long and a large difference Betwix Grisildes grete pacience Line 1224 And of my wyf þe passyng cruelte were I vnbounden also mot I the I wolde neuer eft come in þe snare we weddid men lyue in sorwe and care Line 1228 Assay who-so wil and he schal fynde / That I say soth by seint Thomas of Inde As for þe more part . I say not alle God schilde þat it scholde so byfalle / Line 1232 A good sir host . I haue y-weddid be Thise monthes tuo and more not par de And ȝit I trowe he þat al his lyue wyfles haþ ben þough þat men wold him riue Line 1236 vnto þe hert ne couþe in no manere / Tellen so moche sorwe as I now heere [folio 133a] Couþe telle of my wyfes cursednesse / No quod our ost; marchaunt so god ȝow blesse Line 1240 Sin ȝe so moche knowen of þat art Ful hertily tellith vs a part Gladly quod he of myn oughne sore For sory hert I telle may na more [[No gap in the MS.]] Line 1244

[6-text p 443]

¶ Narrat

Whilom þer was duellyng in lombardy A worþy knight þat born was of pauy In which he lyued in gret prosperite And fourty ȝer . a wifles man was he Line 1248 And folwed ay his bodily delyt On wommen . ther was his appetyt As doon þese fooles þat/ ben seculere And whan þat he was passed fourty ȝere Line 1252 were it for holyness or for dotage I can not say . but such a gret corrage hadde þis knight . to ben a weddid man That day and night . he doþ al þat he can Line 1256 Taspye wher þat he mighte weddid be Praying our lord to graunte him þat he Might oones knowen of þat blisful lif Þat is bitwix an housbond and his wyf Line 1260 And for to lyue vnder þat holy bond with which god first . man to womman bond Noon oþer lif said he is worth a bene For wedlok is so holy and so clene Line 1264 That in þis world it is a paradis Thus sayd þis olde knight þat was so wys And certeinly as soth as god is king To take a wyf . is a glorious þing/ Line 1268 And namely whan a man is old and hoor Than is a wyf þe fruyt of his tresor Than schuld he take a ȝong wif and a fair On which he might engendre him an hair Line 1272

[6-text p 444] Line 1272 And lede his lyf in mirthe and in solace wher as þese bachileres synge allas whan þay fynde eny aduersite In loue which is but childes vanite [folio 133b] Line 1276 And trewely it sit wel to be so That bachilers haue ofte peyne and wo On brutil ground þay bulde brutelnesse / Þay fynde whan þay wene sikernesse Line 1280 Thay lyue but as a brid oþer as a best In liberte and vnder noon arrest Ther as a weddid man in his estate lyuith his lif busily and ordinate Line 1284 vnder þe ȝok of mariage I-bounde wel may his herte in ioye and blisse abounde / For who can be so buxom as a wyf / who is so trewe and eek so ententyf Line 1288 To kepe him seek and hool as is his make For wele or woo sche wol him not forsake / Sche is not wery him to loue and serue Theigh þat he lay bedred. til þat he sterue Line 1292 And ȝet som clerkes seyn it is not so Of whiche theofrast/ is oon of þo what fors þough theofrast. liste lye Ne take no wif quod he for housbondrye Line 1296 As for to spare in houshold þy dispense A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Þy good to kepe þan þin oughne wif / For sche wol clayme half part in al hir lif Line 1300 And if þat þou be seek so god me saue Þyne verray frendes or a trewe knaue wol kepe þe bet· þan sche þat waytith ay After þy good and hath doon many day Line 1304 And if þat þou take a wif be war Of oon peril. which declare I ne dar. This entent and an hundrid siþe wors writith þis Mas ther god his bones curs Line 1308

[6-text p 445] Line 1308 But take no keep of al such vanite Deffy theofrast and herkne me A wyf is goddes ȝifte verrayly Al oþer maner ȝiftes hardily Line 1312 As landes rentes pasture or comune Or oþer moeblis ben ȝiftes of fortune [folio 134a] That passen as a schadow on a wal But dred not/ if I playnly telle schal Line 1316 A wyf wil last and in þin hous endure wel lenger þan þe lust/ par aduenture Mariage is a ful gret sacrament he which haþ no wif I hold him schent Line 1320 he lyueth helples. and is al desolate I speke of folk/ in seculer estate And herken why I say not þis for nought The womman is for mannes help I-wrought Line 1324 The heighe god whan he had adam maked And saugh him aloone body naked God of his grete goodnes sayde þanne Let vs now make an helpe to þis manne Line 1328 lyk to himself/. and þan he made Eue her may ȝe see. and here may ȝe preue That wyf is mannes help and his comfort his paradis terrestre and his desport Line 1332 So buxom and so vertuous is sche / Thay mosten neede lyue in vnite. O fleisch þay ben. and on blood as I gesse haue but oon hert. in wele and in distresse / Line 1336 ∴ A wyf; a seinte mary benedicite how might a man haue eny aduersite That haþ a wyf. certes I can not say The ioye þat is betwixen hem tway Line 1340 Ther may no tonge telle ne herte þink If he be pore sche helpith him to swynk Sche kepith his good and wastith neuer a del And al þat her housbond list. sche likith it wel Line 1344

[6-text p 446] Line 1344 Sche saith nought oones nay whan he saith ȝe Do þis saith he. al redy sir saith sche O blisful ordre o wedlok precious Thou art so mery and ek so vertuous Line 1348 And so comendid and approued eek That euery man þat holt him worth a leek vpon his bare knees ought al his lyf Thanken his god þat him haþ sent a wif [folio 134b] Line 1352 Or pray to god oon him for to sende To be with him vnto his lyues ende / For þan his lyf is set in sikernesse / he may not be deceyued as I gesse / Line 1356 So þat he worche after his wyfes red Þan may be boldely bere vp his heed Thay ben so trewe and also so wyse For whiche if þou wolt do as þe wyse Line 1360 Do alway so þe womman wol þe rede lo how þat Iacob as þe clerkes rede By good counseil of his moder Rebecke Band þe kydes skyn about his sones nekke Line 1364 For which his fader benesoun he wan Lo Iudith as þe story telle can By wys counseil sche goddes poepel kept And slough him oliphernus whil he slept Line 1368 Lo abygaille by good counseil how sche / Sauyd hir housbond Nacab whan þat he / Schold han ben slayn And loke after also By good counseil deliuered out of wo; Line 1372 Þe poeple of god. and made him mandoche Of Assure enhaunsed for to be Ther nys no þing / in gre superlatif As saith Senec aboue an humble wyf Line 1376 Suffre þy wyues tonge as Catoun byt She schal comaunde and þou schalt suffre it And ȝit sche wil obeye of curtesye A wif is keper of þin housbondrye Line 1380

[6-text p 447] Line 1380 wel may þe sike man wayle and wepe Ther as þer is no wyf þe hous to kepe I warne þe if wisly þou wilt wirche loue wel þy wyf as crist doth his chirche Line 1384 If þou louest þiself þou louest þy wyf / No man hatith his fleissch but in his lif / he fostrith it and þerfore warne I þe Cherissh þy wif. or þou schalt neuer the Line 1388 housbond & wif what men iape or pleye Of worldly folk holden þe righte weye [folio 135a] Thay ben so knyt þer may noon harm bytyde And nameliche vpon þe wyues syde Line 1392 For which þis Ianuary of which I tolde Considered hath Inwith his dayes olde / The lusty lif the vertuous quiete That is in mariage hony-swete Line 1396 ¶ And for his frendes on a day he sent To tellen hem theffect of his entent wiþ face sad. he haþ hem this tale told he sayde frendes I am hoor and old Line 1400 And almost god woot at my pittes brinke vpon my soule som what most I þynke I haue my body folily dispendid Blessed be god that I schal be amendid Line 1404 For I wil be certeyn a weddid man And þat anoon in al þe hast I can vnto som mayde fair and tender of age / I pray ȝow helpith for my mariage Line 1408 Al sodeynly. for I wil not abyde I wil fonde tespien on my syde To whom I may be weddid hastily But for als moche as ȝe ben mo than I. Line 1412 Ȝe schul rather such a þing aspien Þan I and wher me lust best to allien But oo þing warne I ȝow my frendes deere / I wil noon old wyf haue in no manere / Line 1416

[6-text p 448] Line 1416 Sche schal not passe · sixtene ȝer certayn Old fleisch and ȝong fleisch þat wold I haue ful fayn Bet is quod he a pyk þan a pikerell And bet þan olde boef is tendre vel Line 1420 I wil no womman twenty ȝer of age It nys but bene straw and gret forage And eek þese olde wydewes god it woot Thay can so moche craft of wades boot Line 1424 So moche broken harm whan þat hem list That wiþ hem schuld I neuer lyuen in rest For sondry scolis maken subtil clerkes womman of many a skile half a clerk is [folio 135b] Line 1428 But certeyn a ȝong þing may men gye Right as men may warm wax with hondes plye wher for I say ȝow plenerly in a clause I wil noon old wyf han right for þat cause Line 1432 For if so were I hadde so meschaunce Þat I in hir couþe haue no plesaunce Than schuld I lede my lyf in aduoutrie And go streight to þe deuel whan I dye. Line 1436 Ne children schuld I noon vpon hir geten Ȝet were me leuer houndes had me eten Þan þat myn heritage schulde falle In straunge hond and þus I telle ȝow alle Line 1440 I doute not. I wot þe cause why Men scholde wedde. and forþermor woot I Ther spekith many man of mariage That wot nomore of it þan wot my page Line 1444 For whiche causes. man schuld take a wyf If he ne may not chast be by his lif Take him a wif with gret deuocioun By cause of lawful procreacioun Line 1448 Of children to þonour of god aboue And not oonly for paramour and for loue. And for þay schulde leccherye eschiewe And ȝeld oure dettes whan þat it is due Line 1452

[6-text p 449] Line 1452 Or for þat ilk man schulde helpen oþer In meschief as suster schal to þe broþer And lyue in chastite ful heuenly But sires by ȝour leue þat am not I Line 1456 For by þanked I dar make auaunt I fele my lemys stark and suffisaunt To doon al þat a man bilongeth vnto I wot my selue best what I may do Line 1460 ¶ Though I be hoor I fare as doþ a tree [Nota] That blossemith er þat þe fruyt I-waxe be A blossemy tre is neither drye ne deed I fele me no-wher hoor but on myn heed Line 1464 Myn herte and my lymes ben as greene. As laurer þurgh þe ȝeer is for to seene [folio 136a] And synnes ȝe han herd al myn entent I pray ȝow to my wille ȝe assent Line 1468 Diuerse men diuersly him tolde Of mariage many ensamples olde Some blamed him some praised it certayn But atte laste schortly for to sayn Line 1472 As alday fallith altercacioun Bitwixe frendes in despitesoun Ther fel a strif bitwen his bretheren tuo [Nota] Of which þat oon was clepid Placebo Line 1476 Iustinus soþly cleped was þat oþer Placebo sayde .o. Ianuary broþer Ful litel need had ȝe my lord so deere Counseil to axe of eny þat is heere Line 1480 But þat ȝe ben so ful of sapience That ȝow ne likith for ȝour heigh prudence / To wayue fro þe word of Salamon This word said he vnto vs euerychoon Line 1484 werk/ al þing by counsail þus sayd he / And þanne schaltow nought repente þe But þough þat Salamon speke such a word Myn owne deere broþer and my lord Line 1488

[6-text p 450] Line 1488 So wisly god bring my soule at ese and rest I holde ȝour oughne counseil is þe best/ For broþer myn of me tak þis motif I haue now ben a court man al my lyf Line 1492 And god wot þough. þat I vnworþy be I haue standen in ful gret degre Abouten lordes in ful gret estat Ȝit had I neuer with noon of hem debaat Line 1496 I neuer hem contraried trewely I wot wel þat my lord can more þan I what þat he saith I hold it ferm and stable I say þe same or elles þing semblable Line 1500 A ful gret fool is eny counselour [nota] Þat seruith any lord of high honour Þat dar presume or oones þenken it / That his counseil schuld passe his lordes wit [folio 136b] Line 1504 Nay lordes ben no fooles by my fay Ȝe haue ȝour self y-spoken heer to day So heigh sentens so holly and so wel Þat I consente and conferme euery del Line 1508 Ȝour wordes alle. and ȝoure oppinioun By god þer is no man in al þis toun Ne in ytaile couþe better haue sayd Crist holdith him of þis ful wel a-payd Line 1512 And trewely it is an heigh corrage Of any man þat stopen is in age / To take a ȝong wyf by my fader kyn Ȝour herte hongith on a ioly pyn Line 1516 Doth now in þis matier right as ȝow lest For fynally I hold it for þe best Iustinus þat ay stille sat and herde / Right in þis wise he to placebo answerde / Line 1520 Now brother myn be pacient I ȝow pray Syns ȝe haue sayd. and herknith what I say Senec amonges oþer wordes wyse Saith þat a man aught him wel auyse Line 1524

[6-text p 451] Line 1524 To whom he ȝiueth his lond or his catel And syns I aught auyse me right wel To whom I ȝiue my good away fro me wel more I aught avised for to be Line 1528 To whom I ȝiue my body for alwey I warn ȝow wel. it is no childes pley To take a wyf wiþoute avisement Men most enquere þis is myn assent Line 1532 wher sche be wys or sobre or dronkelewe Or proud or oþer way a schrewe A chyder or a wastour of þy good Or riche or pore or elles man is wood Line 1536 Al be it so þat no man fynde schal Noon in þis world þat trottith hool in al Neyther man ne best such as man can deuyse But natheles it aught ynough suffise Line 1540 wiþ any wyf if so were þat sche hadde Mo goode thewes þan hir vices badde [folio 137a] And al þis askith leyser to enquere For god woot I. haue weped many a tere Line 1544 Ful priuely syns I haue had a wyf Prayse who so wil a weddid mannes lif Certes I fynd in it but cost and care And obseruaunce of alle blisses bare Line 1548 And ȝit god woot myn neighebours aboute And namely of wommen many a route Sayn þat I haue þe moste stedefast wyf / And eek þe meekest oon þat berith lyf Line 1552 But I woot best wher wryngith me my scho [nota] Ȝe may for me right as ȝow liste do Auysith ȝow ȝe ben a man of age how þat ȝe entren in to mariage Line 1556 And namly with a ȝong wif and a fair By him þat made water eorþe and air The ȝongest man þat is in al þis route Is busy ynough to bring it wel aboute Line 1560

[6-text p 452] Line 1560 To haue his wif alloone trustith me Ȝe schul not please hir fully ȝeres þre This is to say to doon hir ful plesaunce A wyf axith ful many an obseruaunce Line 1564 I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not euel apayd wel quod þis Ianuary and hastow sayd Straw for þy senec and for þy prouerbis I coueyte nought a panyer ful of herbes Line 1568 Of scole termes wiser men þan þow / As I haue sayd assenten her right now Vnto my purpose. placebo what say ȝe I say it is a cursed man quod he / Line 1572 That lettith matrimoigne sicurly And with þat word þay rysen vp sodeinly And ben assented fully þat he scholde Be weddid whan him lust. and wher he wolde Line 1576 The fantasy. and þe curious busynesse Fro day to day. gan in þe soule impresse Of Ianuary aboute his mariage Many a fair schap and many a fair visage [folio 137b] Line 1580 Ther passith þorugh his herte night by night As who so took a mirrour polissched bright And set it in a comun market place Than schuld he se. many a figure pace Line 1584 By his mirour and in þe same wise Gan Ianuary in his þought deuyse Of maydens which þat duellid him bisyde he wist not where þat he might abyde Line 1588 For þough þat oon haue a beaute in hir face Anoþer stant so in þe poeples grace For hir sadnesse and hir benignite That of þe poeple grettest vois had sche Line 1592 And som were riche and hadde badde name But naþeles bitwix ernest and game he atte last/ appoynted him anoon And let al oþer fro his herte goon Line 1596

[6-text p 453] Line 1596 And ches hir of his oughne auctorite For loue is blynd al day and may not se/. And whan he was in to bedde brought He purtrayed in his hert and in his þought Line 1600 Hir freische beaute and hir age tendre Hir myddel smal hir armes long and sclendre Hir wise gouernaunce hir gentilesse / Hir wommanly beryng and hir sadnesse Line 1604 And whan þat he on hir was condescendid him þought his chois mighte nought ben amendid For whan þat he himself concludid hadde Him þough ech oþer mannes wyf so badde Line 1608 That impossible it were to repplie Agayn his choys þis was his fantasie his frendes sent he to at his instaunce And prayed hem to doon him þat plesaunce Line 1612 That hastily þay wolde to him come he wold abrigge her labour alle and some Nedith no more for him to gon ne ryde he was appoynted þer he wold abyde / Line 1616 Placebo cam and eek his frendes soone / And althirfirst. he bad hem alle a boone [folio 138a] That noon of hem noon argumentis make / Agayn þe purpos. which þat he had take Line 1620 which purpos was plesaunt to god sayd he / And verray ground of his prosperite He sayd þer was a mayden in þe toun which þat of beaute hadde gret renoun Line 1624 Al were it so sche were of smal degre / Suffisith him hir trouth and hir beaute / which mayde he sayd he wold haue to his wyf To lede in ease and holinesse his lyf Line 1628 And þanked god þat he might haue hir al That no wight his blisse parten schal And preyed hem to laboure in þis neede And schapen þat he faile not to speede Line 1632

[6-text p 454] Line 1632 For þan he sayd his spirit was at ease Than is quod he no þing may me displease / Saue oon þing prikkith in my conscience / The which I wil reherse in ȝour presence Line 1636 I haue herd sayd quod he ful ȝore ago Ther may no man haue parfyt blisses tuo This is to say in erthe and eek in heuene For þough he kepe him fro þe synnes seuene / Line 1640 And eek from ylk a braunche of þilke tre Ȝit is þer so parfy felicite And so gret ease and lust in mariage That euer I am agast now in myn age Line 1644 That I schal lede now so mery a lyf So delicat wiþoute wo and stryf That I schal haue myn heuen in erthe heere For sith þat verrey heuen is bought so deere Line 1648 with tribulacioun and gret penaunce how schuld I þanne þat liue in such plesaunce As alle wedded men doon with her wyues Come to blisse ther crist eterne on lyue is Line 1652 This is my drede and ȝe my breþeren tweye Assoilith me þis questioun I ȝow preye Iustinus which þat hated his folye Answerd anoon right in his iaperie [folio 138b] Line 1656 And for he wold his longe tale abrigge he wolde noon auctorite alegge But sayde sir. so ther be noon obstacle Oþer þan þis god of his high miracle Line 1660 And of his mercy may so for ȝow wirche That er ȝe haue ȝour rightes of holy chirche Ȝe may repente of weddid mannes lyf In which ȝe sayn þer is no wo ne stryf Line 1664 And elles god forbede but he sente A weddid man grace him to repente wel ofte rather þan a sengle man And þerfor sire þe beste reed I can Line 1668

[6-text p 455] Line 1668 Dispaire ȝow nought but haue in ȝoure memorie Paraduenture she may be ȝour purgatorie Sche may be goddes mene and goddes whippe [nota] Than schal ȝour soule vp to heuen skippe Line 1672 Swyfter þan doþ an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god her after ȝe shuln knowe That þer nys noon so gret felicite In mariage ne neuermor schal be Line 1676 Þat ȝou schal lette of ȝour sauacioun So þat ȝe use as skile is and resoun The lustes of ȝour wyf attemperely And þat ȝe please hir not to amorously Line 1680 And þat ȝe kepe ȝow eek from oþer synne My tale is doon. for my witt is þynne Beþ not agast her of my broþer deere / But let vs waden out of þis matiere Line 1684 The wif of Bathe if ȝe han vnderstonde Of mariage which ȝe han now on honde Declared hath ful wel in litel space Fareth now wel god haue ȝow in his grace Line 1688 And with þat word þis Iustinus and his broþer Han tak her leue and ech of hem of oþer And whan þay saugh þat i most needis be Thay wroughten so by sleight and wys trete Line 1692 That sche þis mayden which þat/ Mayus hight As hastily as euer sche might [folio 139a] Schal weddid be vnto þis Ianuarie I trow it were to longe ȝow to tarie Line 1696 If I ȝow tolde of euery scrit and bond By which þat sche was feoffed in his lond Or for to herken of hir riche array But finally y-comen is þat day Line 1700 That to þe chirche boþe ben þay went For to receyue þe holy sacrement Forth comth þe preost with stoole about his necke And bad hir be lik Sarra and Rebecke Line 1704

[6-text p 456] Line 1704 In wisdom and in trouth of mariage And sayd his orisouns as is vsage / And crouched hem and bad god schuld hem blesse / And made al secur ynowgh with holinesse Line 1708 Thus ben þay weddid wiþ Solempnite And atte fest sittith he and sche with othir worþy folk vpon the deys Al ful of ioy and blis is that paleys Line 1712 And of Instrumentz and of vitaile The moste deinteuous of ytaile Biforn hem stood such Instruments of soun That Orpheus ne of Thebes Amphioun Line 1716 Ne maden neuer such a melodye At euery cours ther cam loud menstralcye That neuer tromped Ioab for to heere Ne he Theodomas ȝit half so cleere / Line 1720 And Thebes whan the cite was in doute Bachus þe wyn hem schenchith al aboute And venus laughith vpon euery wight For Ianuary was bycome hir knight/ Line 1724 And wolde bothe assayen his corrage / In liberte and eek/ in mariage And with hir fuyrbrond in hir hond aboute Daunceth bifore þe bryde and al þe route Line 1728 And certeynly I dar right wel say þis Imeneus þat god of weddyng is Seigh neuer his lif so mery a weddid man holde þy pees thow poete marcian [folio 139b] Line 1732 That writest vs. þat ilke weddyng merye Of hir philologie and he mercurie And of þe songes that the muses songe To smal is boþe þy penne and eek þy tonge Line 1736 For to descriue of þis mariage whan tender ȝouthe haþ weddid stoupyng age Ther is such mirthe. þat it may not be write Assaieth it ȝour self þan may ȝe wyte Line 1740

[6-text p 457] Line 1740 If þat I lye or noon in þis mateere Mayus þat sit with so benigne a cheere / Hir to bihold it / semed fayerye / Queen ester loked neuer with such an ye Line 1744 On assure so meke a look haþ sche I may not ȝow deuyse al hir beaute But thus moche of hir beaute telle I may That sche was lyk þe brighte morw of may Line 1748 Fulfild of alle beaute and plesaunce This Ianuary is rauyscht in a traunce At euery tyme he lokith on hir face But in his hert he gan hir to manace Line 1752 That he þat night in armes wold hir streyne Harder þan euer paris did Eleyne But natheles ȝit had he gret pite That þilke night offenden hir most he / Line 1756 And þought allas .o. tendre creature Now wolde god ȝe mighte wel endure Al my corrage. it is so scharp and keene I am agast ȝe schul it not susteene Line 1760 For god forbede þat I dede al my might Now wolde god þat it were woxe night And þat þe night wold stonden euermo I wold þat al þis poeple were a go Line 1764 And fynally he doth al his labour As he best mighte sauyng his honour To hast hem from þe mete in subtil wise The tyme cam þat resoun was to ryse Line 1768 And after þat men daunce and drynke fast And spices about þe hous þay cast [folio 140a] And ful of ioy. and blis is euery man Al but a squier that hight Damyan Line 1772 which karf tofor þe knight ful many a day he was so rauyssht on his lady may That for þe verray peyne he was nigh wood Almost he swelt and swowned as he stood Line 1776

[6-text p 458] Line 1776 So sore haþ venus hurt him wiþ hir brond As þat sche bar it daunsyng in hir hond And to his bed he went him hastily No more of him as at þis tyme telle I Line 1780 But þer I lete him now his wo compleyne Til freisshe may wol rewen on his peyne / O perilous fuyr þat in þe bed-straw bredith [Auctor] O famuler fo þat his seruice bedith Line 1784 O seruaunt traitour false homly hewe lyk to þe nedder in bosom vntrewe / God schild vs alle from ȝour acqueintance / O Ianuary dronken in plesaunce Line 1788 Of mariage se how þy damyan Thyn oughne squier and þy borne man Entendith for to do þe vilonye / God graunte þe þin homly fo espye Line 1792 For in þis world nys worse pestilence / Than homly foo. alday in þy presence Parfourmed haþ þe sonne his ark diourne No lenger may þe body of him soiourne Line 1796 On thorisonte. as in latitude Night with his mantel þat is derk and rude Gan ouersprede themesperie aboute For which departed is þe route Line 1800 Fro Ianuary with þank on euery side / hoom to her hous lustily þay ryde wher as þay doon her þinges as hem leste And whan þay seigh her tyme þay goon to reste / Line 1804 Soone after þat. þis hasty Ianuarie wold go to bed. he wold no lenger tarie he drinkith ypocras clarre and vernage / Of spices hote to encre his corrage [folio 140b] Line 1808 And many a letuary had he ful fyn Such as þe cursed monk daun Constantin Hath writen in his book de coitu To ete hem alle he nas no þing eschieu Line 1812

[6-text p 459] Line 1812 And to his priue frendes þus sayd he For goddes loue as soon as it may be let voyden al þis hous in curteys wise And þay han doon right as he wold deuyse Line 1816 Men drinken and þe trauers drawe anoon The bruyd was brought abedde as stille as stoon And whan þe bed was with þe prest I-blessid Out of þe chambre haþ euery wight him dressed Line 1820 And Ianuary haþ fast/ in armes take/ His freisshe may / his paradys his make He lullith hir he kissith hir ful ofte with þikke bristlis on his berd vnsofte Line 1824 lik to þe skyn of houndfisch scharp as brere For he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbith hir about hir tendre face And sayde þus allas I mot trespace Line 1828 To ȝow my spouse. and ȝow gretly offende / Er tyme come þat I wol doun descende But naþeles considerith þis quod he Ther nys no werkman what so euer he be Line 1832 Þat may boþe werke wel and hastily This wol be doon at leysir parfitly It is no fors how longe þat we pleye In trewe wedlock coupled be we tweye Line 1836 And blessed be þe ȝok þat we ben Inn For in actes we mow do no synne A man may do no synne with his wif Ne hurt himseluen wiþ his oughne knyf Line 1840 For we han leue to play vs by þe lawe Thus laborith he til þat þe day gan dawe And þan he takith a sop in fyn clarre And vpright in his bed þan sittith he Line 1844 And after þat he song ful lowd and clere And kissed his wyf and made wantoun cheere [folio 141a] he was al coltissch ful of ragerye And ful of iargoun as a flekked pye Line 1848

[6-text p 460] Line 1848 The slakke skyn about his nekke slakeþ whil þat he song. so chaunteþ he and craketh But god wot what þat may þought in hir hert / whan sche him saugh vp sittyng in his schert Line 1852 In his night cappe and with his nekke lene Sche praysith nought his pleying worth a bene Than sayd he þus my reste wol I take Now day is come I may no lenger wake Line 1856 And doun he layd his heed and sleep til prime And afterward whan þat he saugh his tyme Vp riseth Ianuary but freissche may Holdith hir chamber vnto þe fourþe day Line 1860 As vsage is of wyues for þe best For euery labour som tyme moot haue rest Or elles longe may he not endure This is to say. no lyues creature Line 1864 Be it. fissch or brid. or best or man Now wol I speke of woful damyan That languyssh for loue as ȝe schuln here Therfore I speke to him in þis manere Line 1868 ¶ I say. O sely damyan allas [Auctor] Answere to my demaunde as in þis caas how schaltow to þy lady freissche may Telle þy woo. sche wol alway say nay Line 1872 Eek if þou speke sche wol þy woo bywreye God be þin help I can no better seye This seke damyan in venus fuyr So brennith þat he deyeth for desir Line 1876 For which he put his lyf in aduenture No lenger might he in þis wo endure But priuely a penner gan he borwe And in a letter wrot he al his sorwe Line 1880 In maner of a compleynt or of a lay vnto his faire freissche lady may And in a purs of silk heng on his schert he haþ it put and layd it at his hert [folio 141b] Line 1884

[6-text p 461] Line 1884 ¶ The moone þat anoon was þilke day That Ianuary had weddid freische may In tuo of taure was in to Cancre gliden So long hath mayus in hir chambre abiden Line 1888 As custom is vnto þese nobles alle A bryde schal not eten in þe halle Til dayes foure. or þre dayes atte lest I-passed ben. þan let hir go to þe fest Line 1892 The fourthe day complet fro noon to noon whan þat þe heighe masse was I-doon In halle sitte. þis Ianuary and may. As freissch as is þe brighte someres day Line 1896 And so bifelle þat þis goode man Remembrid him vpon þis Damyan And sayde seinte mary how may þis be That Damyan entendith not to me Line 1900 Is he ay seek or how may þis bityde his squiers which þat stoode þer bisyde. Excusid him by cause of his syknesse which letted him to doon his busynesse Line 1904 Noon oþer cause mighte make him tarie That me forthinkith quod þis Ianuarie he is a gentil squyer by my trouþe If þat he deyde it were harm and routhe Line 1908 he is as wys discret and eek secre As any man I wot of his degre And þerto manerly and seruysable And for to be a thrifty man right able Line 1912 But after mete as soon as euer I may I wol myself visit him and eek may To doom him al þe comfort þat I can And for þat word him blessed euery man Line 1916 That of his bounte and his gentilesse he wolde so comfort in seekenesse his squyer. for it was a gentil deede Dame quod þis Ianuary tak good heede Line 1920

[6-text p 462] Line 1920 At after-mete ȝe wiþ ȝour wommen alle / whan ȝe han ben in chambre out of þis halle [folio 142a] That alle ȝe goo to se þis Damyan Doth him desport. he is a gentil man Line 1924 And tellith him þat I wil him visite Haue I no þing. but rested me a lyte / And spedith ȝow faste for I wol abyde Til þat ȝe slepe faste by my syde Line 1928 And with þat word. he gan vnto him calle A squier þat was marchal of his halle And told him certeyn þinges what he wolde This freissche may hath streight hir wey I-holde Line 1932 wiþ alle hir wommen vnto Damyan Doun by þe beddes syde sat sche þan Comfortyng him as goodly as sche may This damyan whan þat his tyme he say Line 1936 In secre wise his purs and eek his bille / In which þat he. I-writen had his wille Haþ put in to hir hond wiþouten more Saue þat he siketh wonder deepe and sore Line 1940 And softely to hir right þus sayd he / Mercy and þat ȝe not discouer me For I am deed if þat þis þing discouered be Þis purs in hir bosom hud had sche Line 1944 And went hir way ȝe gete no more of me But vnto Ianuary comen is sche Þat on his beddes syde sit ful softe / And takith hir and kissith hir ful ofte / Line 1948 And layd him doun to slepe and þat anoon Sche feyned hir as þat sche moste goon · Ther as ȝe woot þat euery wight moot/ neede And whan sche of þis bille haþ taken heede / Line 1952 Sche rent i al to cloutes atte laste And in to þe priuy softely it cast/ who studieth now but faire freissche may A-doun by olde Ianuary sche lay Line 1956

[6-text p 463] Line 1956 That slepith til þat. þe coughe haþ him awaked Anoon he prayde stripen hir al naked he wold of hir he sayd haue som plesaunce hir clothis dede him he sayde som grevaunce [folio 142b] Line 1960 And sche obeieth be hir lief or loth But lest that precious folk be with me wroth how þat he wroughte. I dar not telle Or wheþir it semed him paradys or helle Line 1964 But here I lete hem werken in her wise Til euensong rong and þan þay most arise wheþir it be by desteny or aduenture were it by influence or by nature Line 1968 Or by constellacioun þat in such estate The heuen stood þat tyme fortunate As for to putte a bulle of venus werkis For alle þing hath tyme as seyn þese clerkis Line 1972 To eny womman for to gete hir loue I can not say but grete god aboue / Þat knowith þat noon acte is causeles He deme of al. for I wil holde my pees Line 1976 But soth is þis how þat þis freisshe may hath take such impressioun þat day Of pite of þis sike damyan That from hir herte sche ne dryue can Line 1980 The remembraunce for to doon him ease / Certeyn þought sche. whom þat þis þing displease I rekke not for her I him assure To loue him best of eny creature / Line 1984 Though he no more hadde þan his scherte Lo pite renneth soone in gentil herte heer may ȝe see how excellent fraunchise In womman is. whan þay narow hem auyse Line 1988 Som tyraunt is as þer ben many oon That haþ an hert as hard as is a stoon which wold han lete steruen in þe place wel rather þan han graunted him her grace Line 1992

[6-text p 464] Line 1992 And hem reioysen in her cruel pride And rekken nouȝt to ben an homicide ¶ This gentil may fulfillid of pite Right of hir hond a letter maked sche / Line 1996 In which sche grauntith him hir verray grace Ther lakkid nought but oonly day and place [folio 143a] wher þat sche might vnto his lust suffise For it schal be right as he wol deuyse Line 2000 And whan sche saugh hir tyme vpon a day To visite þis damyan goþ May And subtilly þis lettre doun sche thruste Vnder his pylow. rede it if him luste Line 2004 Sche takith him by þe hond and hard him twiste So secrely þat no wight of hit wiste And bad him be al hool and forþ sche wente To Ianuary whan þat he for hir sente Line 2008 vp ryseth Damyan þe nexte morwe Al passed was his siknes and his sorwe / He kembith him. he pruneth him and pyketh he doth al þat vnto his lady likith Line 2012 And eek to Ianuary he goth as lowe / As euer did a dogge for þe bowe / He is so plesaunt vnto euery man For craft is al. who so þat do it can Line 2016 That euery wight is fayn to speke him good And fully in his lady grace he stood Thus lete I damyan about his neede And in my tale forth I wol procede Line 2020 Some clerkes holden þat felicite Stant in delit and þerfor certeyn he This noble Ianuary with al his might In honest wise as longith to a knight Line 2024 Schop him to lyue ful deliciously his housyng his array as honestly To his degre was maked as a kynges Amonges oþer of his honest þinges Line 2028

[6-text p 465] Line 2028 he made a gardyn walled al wiþ stoon So fair a Gardyn wot I no wher noon For out of doute I verrely suppose That he þat wroot þe romauns of þe Rose Line 2032 Ne couþe of hit þe beaute wel deuyse Ne Pirapus ne might not wel suffise Though he be god of gardyns for to telle / The beaute of þe gardyn and þe welle [folio 143b] Line 2036 That stood vnder a laurer alway greene Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene Preserpina and al þe fayerie Desporten hem and maken melodye Line 2040 Aboute þat welle and daunced as men tolde This noble knight þis Ianuary þe olde Such deynte haþ in it to walk and pleye That he wold no wight suffre bere þe keye Line 2044 Saue he himself for of þe smale wyket he bar alway of siluer a smal cliket wiþ which whan þat him list he it vnschette And whan he wolde pay his wyf hir dette / Line 2048 In somer sesoun þider wold he go And may his wyf and no wight but þay tuo And þinges which. þat weren not doon in bedde he in þe gardyn parformed hem and spedde Line 2052 And in þis wise many a mery day lyued þis Ianuary and freische may But worldly ioye may not alway endure To Ianuary ne to no creature Line 2056 ¶ O sodeyn hap. O þou fortune vnstable [nota bene] lyk to þe scorpioun so desceyuable Þat flaterest with þin heed whan þou wilt stynge Thy tayl is deþ þurgh þin enuenymynge Line 2060 O. britel ioye. o sweete venym queynte O monster þat so subtily canst peynte Thyn ȝiftes vnder hiew of stedfastnesse That þou desceyuest boþe more and lesse / Line 2064

[6-text p 466] Line 2064 why hastow Ianuary þus deceyued That haddist him for þy fulle frend receyued And now þou hast byreft him boþe his yen For sorw of which desireth he to dyen Line 2068 Allas þis noble Ianuary fre Amyd his lust and his prosperite Is woxe blynd and þat al sodeynly he wepith and he weyleth pitously Line 2072 And þer with al þe fuyr of Ialousye lest þat his wif schuld falle in som folye [folio 144a] So brent his herte. þat he wolde fayn That som man boþe hir and him had slayn Line 2076 For neyþer after his deth nor in his lyf Ne wold he þat sche were loue ne wyf But euer lyue as wydow in clothes blake / Soul as þe turtil þat lost haþ hir make Line 2080 But atte last after a moneth or tweye his sorwe gan aswage soþ to seye For whan he wist it may noon oþer be / he paciently took his aduersite Line 2084 Saue out of doute he may not forgoon That he nas Ialous euermore in oon which Ialousie it was so outrageous That neyþer in halle. ne in noon oþer hous Line 2088 Ne in noon oþer place neuer þe mo he nolde suffre hir to ryde or go But if þat he had hond on hir alway For which ful ofte wepeth freische may Line 2092 That loueth Damyan so benignely That sche moot outher deyen sodeinly Or elles sche moot han him as hir lest She waytith whan hir herte wolde brest Line 2096 vpon þat oþer syde Damyan Bicomen is þe sorwfulleste man That euer was for neyther night ne day Ne might he speke a word wiþ fressche may Line 2100

[6-text p 467] Line 2100 As to his purpos of no such matiere But if þat Ianuary most it heere That had an hond vpon hir euermo But naþeles by writyng to and fro Line 2104 And priue signes wist he what sche ment/ And sche knew eek þe fyn of his entent ¶ O Ianuary what might it þe auaile If þou might see. as fer as schippes saile Line 2108 For as good is. blynd deceyued be / As to be deceyued whan a man may see Lo argus which þat had an hundred eyen For al þat euer he couþe poure or prien [folio 144b] Line 2112 Ȝet was he blent as god wot so ben moo That weneth wisly þat it be nought so Passe ouer is an ease I say no more This freissche may þat I spak of so ȝore Line 2116 In warm wex hath emprynted þe cliket That Ianuary bar of þe smale wiket/ with which in to his gardyn ofte he went And damyan þat knew al his entent Line 2120 The cliket counterfeted priuely Ther nys no more to say but hastily Som wonder by þis cliket schal betyde which ȝe schal heeren if ȝe wol abyde Line 2124 ¶ O noble Ouyde wel soth saistow god woot what sleight is it/ þough it be long & hoot That he nyl fynd it out in som manere By Piramus and Thesbe may men leere Line 2128 Though þay were kept ful longe streyt ouer al Thay ben accorded rownyng þurgh a wal Ther no wight couþe han found out swich a sleight But now to purpos er þat dayes eyght; Line 2132 were passid. er þe moneth of Iuyl bifille That Ianuary haþ caught so gret a wille Thorugh eggyng of his wyf him for to pleye In his gardyn and no wight but we tweye Line 2136

[6-text p 468] Line 2136 That in a morwe vnto þis may saith he / Rys vp my wif . my loue . my lady fre / The turtlis vois . is herd my douue swete The wynter is goon . with his raynes wete Line 2140 Come forth now with . þin eyȝen columbine how fairer ben þy brestes þan is þe wyne The gardyn is enclosed al aboute Com forth my swete spouse out of doute Line 2144 Thow hast me wounded in myn hert .o. wyf No spot of þe knew I in al my lif / Com forth and let vs / take oure desport / I ches þe for my wyf and my comfort Line 2148 Such olde lewed wordes vsed he / On damyan a signe made sche [folio 145a] That he schuld go . biforn with his cliket This damyan þan haþ opened þe wiket Line 2152 And in he stert and þat in such manere / That no wight . it mighte see nor heere And stille he seet vnder a bussch anoon This Ianuary is blynd as is a stoon Line 2156 with Mayus in his hond and no wight mo In to his freische gardyn is ago And clappid to þe wiket sodeinly Now wyf quod he her nys but ȝe and I Line 2160 þat art þe creature þat I best loue For by þat lord þat sit in heuen aboue leuer ich had to dyen on a knyf Than þe offende deere trewe wyf Line 2164 For goddes sake þenk how I þe chees Nought for no coueytise douteles But oonly for þe loue I had to þe And þough þat I be old and may not se Line 2168 Beeth trewe to me and I wol telle ȝow why Thre þinges certes schul ȝe wynne þer by First loue of crist and to ȝour self honour And al myn heritage toun and tour Line 2172

[6-text p 469] Line 2172 I ȝiue it ȝow makith chartres as ȝow leste This schal ben doon to morw er sonne reste So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse I pray ȝow first in couenaunt ȝe me kisse Line 2176 And þough þat I be ialous wyt me nought Ȝe ben so deep emprinted in my þought Þat whan þat I considre ȝour beaute And þer wiþ al þe vnlikly eelde of me Line 2180 I may nought certes þough I schulde dye Forbere to ben out of ȝour companye For verray loue þis is wiþouten doute Now kisse me wyf and let vs Rome aboute Line 2184 This freissche may whan sche his worde herde Benignely to Ianuary answerde / But first and forward sche bigan to wepe I haue quod sche a soule for to kepe [folio 145b] Line 2188 As wel as ȝe and also myn honour And of my wifhod þilke tendre flour which þat I haue ensured in ȝour hond whan þat þe prest to ȝow my body bond Line 2192 wherfor I wil answer in þis manere By þe leue of ȝow my lord so deere I pray to god þat neuer dawe þe day That I ne sterue as foule as womman may Line 2196 If euer I do to my kyn þat schame Or elles I empaire so my name That I be fals and if I do þat lak Doth strepe me and put me in a sak Line 2200 And in þe nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche why speke ȝe thus . but men ben euer vntrewe And wommen han reproef of ȝow euer newe Line 2204 Ȝe haue noon oþer contenaunce I leue / But speke to vs of vntrust and repreue And with þat word sche saugh wher damyan Sat in þe buissh and coughen sche bigan Line 2208

[6-text p 470] Line 2208 And wiþ hir fyngres signes made sche That damyan schuld clymb vpon a tre [nota] That charged was with fruyt/ and vp he went/ For verrayly he knew al hir entent Line 2212 And euery signe þat sche couthe make wel bet þan Ianuary hir oughne make For in a letter sche had told him al Of þis matier how he worche shal Line 2216 And þus I lete him sitte vpon þe pirie And Ianuary and may romynge mirye ¶ Bright was þe day and bliew þe firmament Phebus haþ of gold his stremes doun I-sent Line 2220 To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse he was þat tyme in gemmes as I gesse But litel fro his declinacioun Of Caker . Ioues exaltacioun Line 2224 And so bifel þat brighte morwen tyde That in þat gardyn in þe ferther syde / [folio 146a] Pluto that is kyng of fayerye And many a lady in his compaignie Line 2228 Folwyng his wif þe queene preserpine Ech after oþer . as right as a lyne whil þat sche gadred floures in þe mede In claudian ȝe may þe story rede Line 2232 how in þis grisly carte he hir fette This king of fayry þan adoun him sette / vpon a bench of turues freissh and greene And right anoon þus sayd he to his queene / Line 2236 ¶ My wyf quod he þer may no wight say nay Thexperiens so preueth euery day The tresoun which þat womman doth to man Ten hundrid þousand . tellen I can Line 2240 Notable of ȝour vntrouth and brutelnesse O . Salamon wys and richest of richesse / Fulfild of Sapiens . and of worldly glorie / Ful worþy ben þy wordes to memorie Line 2244

[6-text p 471] Line 2244 To euery wight þat wit and resoun can Thus praysith he ȝit þe bounte of man Among a þousand men ȝit fond I oon But of wommen alle fond I noon Line 2248 Thus saith þe king þat knoweth ȝour wikkednesse And Ihc filius Sirac / as I gesse / Ne spekith of ȝow but selde reuerence A. wilde fuyr and corrupt pestilence Line 2252 So falle vpon ȝour bodies ȝit to night Ne se ȝe not þis honurable knight By cause allas þat he is blynd and old his owne man schal make him cokewold Line 2256 loo wher he sitt . þe lecchour in þe tre Now wol I graunten of my maieste / Unto þis olde blinde worþy knight Þat he schal haue aȝein his eyȝen sight Line 2260 whan þat his wyf wol do him vilonye Than schal he knowe al her harlotrye Boþe in reproef of her and oþer mo Ȝe schal quod preserpine and wol ȝe so [folio 146b] Line 2264 Now by my modres sires soule I swere That I schal ȝiue hir suffisaunt answere / And alle wommen after for hir sake That þough þay be in any gult I-take Line 2268 with face bold þay schul hemself excuse And bere hem doun þat wolde hem accuse For lak/ of answer noon of hem schal dyen Al had a man seyn a þing wiþ boþe his yen Line 2272 Ȝit schul we wymmen visage it hardily And wepe and swere and chide subtilly So þat ȝe men schul ben as lewed as gees what rekkith me of/ ȝour auctoritees Line 2276 I wot wel þat þis Iew þis Salamon Fond of vs wommen fooles many oon But þough he ne fond no good womman Ȝet haþ þer founde many anoþer man Line 2280

[6-text p 472] Line 2280 wommen ful trewe . ful good and vertuous witnesse on hem þat duelle in cristes hous with martirdom þay proued her constaunce The romayn gestes eek make remembraunce Line 2284 Of many a verray trewe wyf also · But sire be nought wrath al be it so Though þat he sayd he fond no good womman I pray ȝow tak þe sentens of þe man Line 2288 he mente þus þat in souereign bounte Nis noon but god þat sit in trinite Ey for verrey god þat nys but oon what make ȝe so moche of Salamon Line 2292 what þough he made a temple goddes hous what þough he were riche and glorious So made he eek a temple of fals godis How might he do a þing þat more forbod is Line 2296 Par de als fair as ȝe his name emplastre he was a lecchour and an ydolastre And in his eelde he verraily god forsook And if god ne had as saiþ þe book Line 2300 I-spared him for his fadres sake he scholde Haue left his regne raþer þan he wolde [folio 147a] I sette right nought of þe vilonye That ȝe of wommen write a boterflie Line 2304 I am a womman needes most I speke Or elles swelle til myn herte breke For syn sche sayd þat we ben iangleresses As euer hool I moote brouke my tresses Line 2308 I schal not spare for no curtesye / To speke him harm þat wold vs vilonye Dame quod þis pluto be no lenger wroth I ȝiue it vp but/ sith I swere myn oth Line 2312 That I wil graunte him his sight agein My word schal stonde I warne ȝow certeyn I am a kyng it sit me nought to lye And I quod sche a queen of faierie Line 2316

[6-text p 473] Line 2316 hir answer schal sche haue I vndertake Let vs no mo wordes her-of make For soth I wol no lenger ȝow contrarie ∵ Now let vs turne agayn to Ianuarye Line 2320 That in þis gardyn with þis faire may Syngeþ ful merier þan þe papiniay Ȝow loue I best and schal and oþer noon So long about þe aleys is he goon Line 2324 Til he was come agaynes þilke pirie wher as þis damyan sittith ful mirye On heigh among þe freische leeuys greene This freissche may þat is so bright and scheene Line 2328 Gan for to syke and sayd allas my syde Now sir quod sche for ought þat may bityde I most han of þe peres þat I see Or I moot dye so sore longith me Line 2332 To eten of þe smale peris greene Help for hir loue þat is of heuen queene I telle ȝow wel a womman in my plyt May haue to fruyt so gret an appetyt Line 2336 Þat sche may deyen . but sche it haue Allas quod he þat I nad heer a knaue That couthe clymbe allas allas quod he For I am blynd . ȝe sire no fors quod sche [folio 147b] Line 2340 But wolde ȝe vouche sauf for goddes sake The piry inwith ȝour armes for to take For wel I woot þat ȝe mys-truste me Than schold I clymbe wel y-nough quod sche Line 2344 So I my foot might set vpon ȝour bak Certes quod he þer on schal be no lak Might I ȝow helpe wiþ myn herte blood he stoupith doun and on his bak sche stood Line 2348 And caught hir by a twist and vp sche goth ladys I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not wroþ I can not glose I am a rude man And sodeinly anoon þis damyan Line 2352

[6-text p 474] Line 2352 Gan pullen vp þe smok and in he throng And whan þat pluto /saugh þis grete wrong To Ianuary he ȝaf his sight agayn . . . . . Line 2356 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ne was þer neuer man of þing so fayn But on his wif his þought was euermo Vp to þe tree he kest his eyȝen tuo / Line 2360 And seigh þat damyan his wyf had dressid In which maner it may not ben expressid But if I wolde speke vncurteisly And vp he ȝaf a roryng and a cry Line 2364 As doth þe moder whan þe child schal dye Out. help. allas. harrow. he gan to crie O stronge lady stoure what dos þow And sche answerith sire what eylith ȝow Line 2368 haue paciens and resoun in ȝour mynde I haue ȝow holpen on boþe ȝour eyen blynde vp peril of my soule I schal not lyen As me was taught to hele with ȝour yen Line 2372 was noþing bet. for to make ȝow see Than stroggle wiþ a man vpon a tree God woot I dede it in ful good entent Stroggle quod he; ȝe algat in it went Line 2376 God ȝiue ȝow boþe on schames deth to dyen He swyued þe. I saugh it wiþ myn yen And elles be I honged by þe hals Than is quod sche medicine fals [folio 148a] Line 2380 For certeynly if þat ȝe mighten see Ȝe wold not say tho wordes vnto me Ȝe han som glymsyng and no parfyt sight I se quod he as wel as euer I might Line 2384 Thankid be god wiþ boþe myn yen tuo And by my trouth me þought he did þe so Ȝe. mase. mase. goode sire quod sche This þank haue I for I haue maad ȝow see Line 2388

[6-text p 475] Line 2388 Allas quod sche þat euer I was so kynde Now dame quod he let al passe out of mynde Com doun my leef and if I haue myssayd God help me so as I am euel appayd Line 2392 But by my fader soule I wende haue seyn how þat þis damyan had by þe leyn And þat þy smok had layn vpon þy brest Ȝe sire quod sche ȝe may wene as ȝow lest/ Line 2396 But sire a man þat wakith out of his slep He may not sodeynly wel take keep vpon a þing ne seen it parfytly Til þat he be adawed verrayly Line 2400 Right so a man þat long haþ blynd I-be Ne may not sodeynly so wel I-se First whan þe sight is newe comen agayn As he þat haþ a day or tuo I-sayn Line 2404 Til þat ȝour sight y-stablid be a while Þer may ful many a sighte ȝow bigile Beþ war I pray ȝow for by heuen king Ful many man wenith for to se a þing Line 2408 And it is al anoþer þan it/ semeth he þat mys conceyueth he mys demeth And wiþ þat word sche leep doun fro þe tre This Ianuary who is glad but he Line 2412 he kissith hir and clippith hir ful ofte And on hir wombe he strokith hir ful ofte And to his paleys hom he hath hir lad Now goode men I pray ȝow to be glad Line 2416 Thus endith her my tale of Ianuarye God blesse vs and his moder seinte marie / AmeN. [folio 148b]

¶ Here endith the marchauntes tale [[Small break in MS.]]

[6-text p 476]

Ey goddes mercy sayd our hoste þo Now such a wyf I pray god keep me fro Line 2420 lo whiche sleightes and subtilitees In wommen ben for ay as busy as bees Ben þay vs seely men for to desceyue And from a soth. euer wol þay weyue Line 2424 By this marchaundes tale it proueth wel But douteles as trewe as eny steel I haue a wyf þough þat sche pore be But of hir tonge a labbyng schrewe is sche Line 2428 And ȝit sche hath an heep of vices mo Ther-of no fors let alle such þinges go But wite ȝe what in counseil be it seyd Me rewith sore I am vnto hir teyd Line 2432 And if I scholde reken euery vice which þat sche hath I-wis I were to nyce And cause why. it schuld reported be And told to hir of som of þis meyne Line 2436 Of whom it needith not for to declare Syn wommen connen oute such chaffare And eek my witte suffisith nought þerto To tellen al wherfor my tale is do [[No gap in the MS.]] Line 2440